In the end, Uncle He sent someone to deliver the food.

It was still the exquisite little dining cart delivered to the door, and Huo Tinglan pushed it in himself.

The bedroom was filled with Ye Ci’s pheromones, which were extremely rich.

The sweet smell had changed after the permanent marking. It still smelled of vanilla, but just like delicate and tender flower buds were swollen, red, and fully bloomed under the irrigation of fertilizers, Ye Ci’s glands also exuded a sweet and fragrant smell after the marking, very infectious. Huo Tinglan, who was at the peak of possessiveness, was so grudging that he even refused to open the window, let alone allow outsiders to smell the ambiguous atmosphere.

During the last few days of the holiday, in order to satisfy his unreasonable possessiveness, Huo Tinglan simply installed a bed table and coaxed Ye Ci to do his homework like this.

Sometimes even while holding Ye Ci……at the same time, he let him sit at the desk to do problems, calling it “convenient tutoring.”

Ye Ci knew that Huo-shushu was no longer the good Huo-shushu he had known in the past, but never thought that he would do such a ridiculous thing.

It was simply……unreasonable!

The twenty-day holiday ended quickly.

According to Tiancheng’s tradition, in order to temper the perseverance of the college entrance exam candidates, the school would arrange a week-long military training every year at the beginning of the first semester of the third year of senior high school. This tradition had been followed for many years, evolving to this day. It was more a formality than anything, and they wouldn’t really try their best to make these high school seniors suffer. Some training programs were even quite interesting, but the process of isolation was the real deal.

Not being able to see each other for seven days, but also enduring the jealousy that fermented as his Omega ate and slept with classmates and trained together……

For Huo Tinglan, not wanting Ye Ci to go to the military training was just a matter of telling his assistant to take care of it, but he didn’t want to disturb Ye Ci’s normal high school life because of his selfish desires. Besides, Ye Ci’s temperament was so introverted. He hadn’t made any friends in Tiangcheng for nearly half a year, and probably didn’t have much chance to socialize with others. These several days of communal living was an opportunity for Ye Ci to build good relationships with his classmates and integrate into the class, so he shouldn’t deprive him of it.

Young eaglets could not be raised into canaries.

Reason eventually triumphed over irrationality.

Before delivering Ye Ci to the training base, Huo Tinglan packed his suitcase with his own hands, going through all the items, big and small, to make them all smell of his own pheromones. There were two full packs of scent-blocking patches, and the words “Strong Lemon Mint Fragrance” were printed on them. After they were applied, an Alpha with a keen sense of smell could only smell a soulless chemical scent.

“……How many changes of clothes do you want to bring?” Huo Tinglan opened a drawer in the cloakroom.

Ye Ci’s frequently used items were moved to the master bedroom despite the fact that they had separate rooms.

There were rows of neatly folded “small square parcels” in the long, flat drawer. They were mainly pure white cotton, with the occasional black and fine silk ones, brand new as if just purchased, probably because Ye Ci was too embarrassed to wear them.

Out of an illogical desire for monopoly, Huo Tinglan folded these underwear by himself.

He entrusted the housekeeper and the staff to be responsible for all the trivial matters of his own life. When it was Ye Ci’s turn, especially after the permanent mark, he was itching to do these things without the help of others.

“Those……I’ll pack those myself.” Ye Ci hurried over and grabbed three of them.

It was definitely enough to bring three for seven days. He washed them every day, and the climate in early autumn was dry, so it was more than adequate to rotate them.

Huo Tinglan held him back and fiddled with the clothes in his hands unhurriedly, saying with disapproval: “Just three pairs? You’re going for seven days.”

“I wash them every day,” Ye Ci explained, “While training and sweating, these personal things can’t be hoarded……otherwise bacteria will grow.”

“Where will you hang them after washing?” Huo Tinglan chuckled, pestering him quite unreasonably and making no secret of his jealousy, otherwise he would have a hard time these days. “Hanging them out in the dormitory……won’t all your classmates see them?”

“It’s nothing.” Ye Ci stared. “Those who live together……must all be Omegas, so it doesn’t matter.”

He had a point.

Normal people would think so.

“……Sorry, baby.” Huo Tinglan was silent for a moment, laughed at himself, and said with sincere apology, “Am I being unreasonable?”

Huo-shushu was here again! It was that expression again!

Ye Ci looked at him from the corner of his eyes. That face was honest, but was in fact secretly improper. He muttered in a low voice: “As long as you know, remember not to do it next time.”

After saying so, he just slipped away.

“What?” Huo Tinglan laughed in surprise.

The little gentleman had learned to be wicked.

Which bastard did he learn it from?

His little mouth still stuttered, but would he stop stuttering in the future? Would he still obediently let him bully?

If the soft method didn’t work, he could only use harder means. He reacted quickly, and Ye Ci had only taken two steps before Huo Tinglan grabbed him like a cat by the neck.

“You’ve revealed your true face again!” Ye Ci quickly accused.

Huo Tinglan laughed out loud and stopped pretending. He picked Ye Ci up and put him on the sofa, pressing him firmly down and even poking his ribs to profit at his expense. This made Ye Ci laugh and beg for mercy, and then reluctantly agree to bring seven pairs.

……He was bringing so many, like some kind of underwear maniac. Ye Ci was so tortured that his eyes filled with physical tears, and he had no choice but to pray that the desire for exclusiveness brought by the permanent mark would subside as soon as possible.

On the first day of the third year of high school, more than a dozen buses drove the group of seniors to the training base.

Male Omegas were rare in the population. Including him, there were only three in Ye Ci’s class. For the entire grade, they could barely even fill three six-person dormitories.

Although the dozen or so people were scattered in different classes, many of them knew each other, and they chatted enthusiastically in twos and threes from gathering to sleeping. The two cute little Omegas who were in the same class as Ye Ci put their heads together to watch a dance video of a certain Alpha internet idol, shrieking and clutching each other from time to time. Ye Ci didn’t understand, and maintained his usual silence. The other strange Omega who shared the dormitory with him saw that he was 1.8 meters tall and had a cold appearance, and was a little fearful of him. Ye Ci glanced at them inadvertently, and the chirping chatter of those several people dropped down, like a nest of chickens with a hawk hovering above their heads.

The training intensity of the first day was approximately equal to zero. After dividing the dormitories and tidying up, the students who had changed into camouflage uniforms went downstairs to gather for a half-hour meeting. They listened to the school leaders’ speeches, had a face-to-face meeting with the instructors, and then got to know the common area and training ground, and this half day was over. When everyone went back to the dormitories, a delivery car was parked at the entrance of the building. The use of high-power electrical appliances was prohibited in the dormitory building, and there was no place to boil water. Therefore, the school was responsible for distributing drinking water to the students. Each dormitory was allocated a lot of boxes of mineral water, and everyone was busily transporting them into the building.

Those male Omegas were petite and tender, with slender arms and legs, and they were all young masters who had grown up spoiled. A box of water weighed more than 20 kilograms, and they had to climb to the fourth floor, so they couldn’t move them at all. But this dormitory was full of Omega and Beta girls, and they didn’t know where to start to catch a strong man. While they were discussing amongst each other, Ye Ci had already picked up a box and stacked it on top of another. With a weight of nearly fifty catties, he picked it up lightly and deftly, and slipped upstairs in a hurry.

He ran fast, and when he went downstairs to move more, he bumped into his temporary roommates who were working together to carry the water up the stairs. The little faces of the Omegas were flushed with exhaustion, and they sighed in despair while climbing the stairs.

“……Give it to me, ba.” Ye Ci slowed on the steps and coughed uncomfortably, glancing at the few people and looking away shyly.

He had rarely taken the initiative to communicate with people like this before.

On the one hand, he was too introverted, and on the other, he felt inferior because of his speech impediment, fearful of being ridiculed.

A stutter was often the object of teasing by those badly behaved students in class.

After seeing experts several times during the summer vacation and actively cooperating with the training, he could pretty much speak coherently in short sentences of four to five characters. At home, he often took the initiative to talk to Huo Tinglan, and could sometimes joke around naturally. The changes were subtle, and only when he came back to his senses did he realize that the matter of “speaking up” had unconsciously become less difficult.

“Then……thank you for your hard work, la.” The little Omega who was in the same class as Ye Ci raised his face and smiled kindly at him.

“Forget it.” Ye Ci turned his head away, his face suddenly flushed, and rushed upstairs with two boxes of water.

“……pff.”

“Why do I think that he’s so cute……”

“He blushed when he said that.”

“I remember he was in your class, right?”

They were all the same age and lived in the same dorm. With such a good starting opportunity, and knowing that Ye Ci was soft-tempered and not as cold as he looked, communication became natural.

Although the little Omegas couldn’t chat with Ye Ci, this didn’t prevent them from taking Ye Ci to the cafeteria for a meal after training.

The table was full of classmates, and there was also a place for him. There was a lot of noise in his ears. From time to time, someone would be afraid of neglecting him and would simply say a word to him in the middle of the lively chat.

Ye Ci often put his chopsticks down and responded earnestly.

It was really nice to not feel so alone anymore.

These days, Ye Ci had not been able to find a chance to be alone. There was a curfew in the dormitory building, and you couldn’t come and go at night. He and Huo Tinglan mainly communicated with each other by sending messages.

At eight o’clock in the evening, Huo Tinglan sent a series of messages. Ye Ci climbed to the upper bunk and sat against the wall so that no one could see his phone screen.

[Huo Tinglan]: [picture]

[Huo Tinglan]: [picture]

… …

The chat box was brushed with the honey-gold color of flesh.

None of them showed a face.

But Ye Ci could recognize them based on the outline of the pectoral muscles.

Ye Ci’s blood vessels almost exploded upon seeing it, and he hurriedly locked the screen. No one in the dormitory noticed him, but he was more nervous than a thief.

“……….”

How did Huo-shushu look like an erotic male model ! ! !

After calming down for a while, Ye Ci unlocked the screen.

[Huo Tinglan]: Do you like it, baby?

[Ye Ci]: Be careful of being banned.

[Ye Ci]: I’m still a student, so you can’t have an intimate chat with me.

After condemning him, he saved the pictures one by one with a blushing face.

Who could he possibly have learned that sanctimonious energy from.

Huo Tinglan could guess what Ye Ci was doing there, and to match him, he smiled and pretended to be serious, typing with his eyes down.

[Huo Tinglan]: Okay, no intimate talk.

[Huo Tinglan]: How are you getting along with your classmates? Are you tired from training?

The corners of Ye Ci’s lips curled up in a soft arc, and he typed a lot of words quickly.

[Ye Ci]: Very good, I went to the cafeteria with them these two days. I didn’t stutter much, and they didn’t seem to notice.

[Ye Ci]: In fact, I feel that the students in our school are quite nice.

[Ye Ci]: The training was very easy. In the 400-meter obstacle race this afternoon, I was faster than many Alphas, and brought back a lot of points for our group.

He was implicitly proud and shared his joy with Huo Tinglan.

The dozen or so little Omega boys were fascinated by him, and they almost regarded him as the glory of Omegas.

Ladders, high board walls, single-plank bridges, deep jumping pits……every time Ye Ci overcame an obstacle, they were screaming on the sidelines, more excited than when supporting their idols. They rushed up to hug Ye Ci, who was out of breath, and jumped up and down together.

Ye Ci had no choice but to politely dance with them a bit in embarrassment.

……This couldn’t be told to Huo-shushu.

Otherwise, he would definitely go crazy with jealousy.

As they chatted and chatted, it would soon be time to turn off the lights.

Huo Tinglan was afraid that he would damage his eyes if he looked at his phone in the dark, so he urged him to put the phone down, take a shower, and rest.

Ye Ci hesitated for a while, then poked his head out and looked around. The five roommates who had been chatting and gossiping so much that they forgot lights-out time were all panicking and preparing to go to the bathroom with their washbasins and toothbrushes, and no one noticed him.

He had received so many generous pictures from Huo-shushu, so out of consideration for reciprocity……

Ye Ci blushed, took a photo of himself, and quickly sent it.

He knew that Huo Tinglan would definitely like to see him, but hadn’t mentioned anything because he feared that it would be inconvenient for him in the dormitory.

[Ye Ci]: [picture]

[Ye Ci]: I’m going to sleep. Good night, Huo-shushu.

From his head to his toes, he wondered what Huo Tinglan’s next reaction would be.

He didn’t dare to look anymore, put his phone on silent, stuffed it under the pillow, then propped himself up on the bed rail and jumped down to wash.

……Reserving countless off-color remarks for the innocent pillow.

---

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Chapter Forty-Three << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Five

Zhao Yelan clenched his fists and then loosened them. Picking up the teacup on the table, and seeing that there was no more tea to pour, he set it back down heavily and abruptly raised his voice: “You sober up!”

“Look, you’re embarrassed to the point of anger.”

“……”

Yan Mingting reached out and patted his back: “Okay, don’t worry, I understand, you’re right. Let’s pretend we don’t know about this, you don’t like me at all.”

Zhao Yelan couldn’t bear it anymore and kicked him: “Get the hell out!”

Yan Mingting went to the door, then turned around with a smile: “It’s time for breakfast, no matter how shy you are, you can’t starve yourself.”

“Scram!”

Breakfast was eaten separately. Yan Mingting waited in the hall for a while, until Gao Tan came to serve the dishes and said that his lord would eat in the room.

Yan Mingting assented, but asked another question: “Were you seriously injured yesterday?”

“Not seriously,” Gao Tan said. “Thank you, General, for coming to rescue me.”

With a guilty conscience, Yan Mingting turned back to his food.

Zhao Yelan finished his meal in the room. Looking at the time, it was time to go to the Imperial Academy.

The new official uniform was a green robe, and there was no need to wear an identification talisman. Although it was all a single piece, it was difficult to hide his elegance.

Gao Tan watched in amazement: “My lord, you look the best in whatever clothes you wear.”

“Now your tongue is nimble again?” Zhao Yelan glanced at him coldly, picked up the sachet in his hand, and smacked him on the head with it. “Do you know how much trouble you have caused me?”

Gao Tan covered his head and asked blankly: “Am I in trouble again?”

“En, big trouble.” Zhao Yelan put the sachet on and handed him a piece of silver: “Go see the doctor yourself, ba.”

“Thank you, my lord!” Gao Tan took the silver and sent him to the door, then turned around and took the silver to buy snacks.

The Imperial Academy did not need to go to morning court, and used a shift system for when the Emperor called. Today was a day that Zhao Yelan was on duty. He stood at the courtyard gate and looked up at the plaque, his thoughts inscrutable.

After stepping through the gate, he saw that his colleagues had arrived and were compiling classics. There were many people, but it was a little quiet. Those who became scholars were addicted to it, and didn’t care about worldly affairs.

“Isn’t this Zhao Yelan, Zhao-daren?” A Bachelor^[1] took the lead to identify him, greeted him with a forced smile, and then went about his business.

Others looked over one after another with varied expressions, but it was obvious that nobody welcomed him. 

Most likely it was scholarly contempt, or their dislike of Zhao Yelan’s intrigue in court, which made them look down on him.

Although the Imperial Academy was the place many students aspired to, it was a big joke that Zhao Yelan was transferred from a first-rank minister to the Imperial Academy.

Everyone nodded their heads in embarrassment, not knowing what trouble Zhao Yelan would cause the Imperial Academy in the future.

“Zhao-daren, excuse me for not going out to meet you. I hope you will forgive this Ruan Xian.” A young man in his prime came to greet him generously. “I am also an editor, so how about I give you a tour first?”

“Ruan Xian?” Zhao Yelan smiled slightly. “I have admired you for a long time.”

“My lord knows me?”

“The talented and elegant previous third place scholar in the Imperial examinations, who doesn’t know your name?”

Never thinking that Zhao Yelan would remember him when he was a mere third place, Ruan Xian smiled shyly and led him inside, saying, “It was just a little bit of luck. If I were to take the Imperial examinations with Zharo-daren, in which round would I be able to make third? What’s more, the first and second place scholars are more talented than me, I can only do some small errands and try my best to solve problems for the Emperor and the people.”

Zhao Yelan smiled but said nothing.

When the people around saw the two talking and smiling together, their faces became a bit strange, especially the previous first and second place scholars, whose brows never loosened.

The top three in each Imperial examination would enter the Imperial Academy, starting as editors. Seeing that this year’s spring was coming soon, and a new batch of talents was about to enter the Imperial Academy, it would be difficult if they wanted to stand out.

They usually couldn’t go to court, and the Emperor didn’t like people who flattered and curried favor, so they could only follow orders diligently and steadfastly. But how many gray-haired people in the Imperial Academy had yet to achieve success?

This Ruan Xian immediately got involved with Zhao Yelan. Even if Zhao Yelan would never return to court in this life, if he could find out the Emperor’s preferences through him, the road to promotion would be much smoother.

After they circled around, Zhao Yelan was brought to Jingshi Pavilion, where he would compile and write historical records in the future. 

Others saw him pick up the annals of the late Emperor and read it quietly. He didn’t make trouble, so they each breathed a sigh of relief and got busy.

Not long after, someone outside shouted that the Emperor was coming, and everyone put down their work one after another, getting up to go and pay respects.

Zhao Yelan fell in at the back of the line.

There was a group of court ladies and eunuchs standing in front, with Zhao Xuan at the head. He asked, “Where are the chess players?”

The Imperial Academies also recruited some chess players and musicians for entertainment when the Emperor had leisure time. 

As soon as the chess players stood up, Zhao Xuan heard a familiar coughing sound and looked at the person in the back. Kneeling on the ground with everyone, he coughed until his face turned pale, but refused to raise his head.

“You got down first.” After giving orders to the chess players, he walked to Zhao Yelan’s side and said, “Come and play with me.”

“Yes.” When Zhao Yelan stood up, he was dizzy for a moment after kneeling for so long. His blood supply was insufficient, and he almost lost his footing.

Zhao Xuan subconsciously tried to reach out, but the other party had already taken two steps back while pressing his head, then cupped his hands respectfully: “Your Majesty, this way, please.”

Everyone looked at these familiar yet slightly estranged people and were a little uncertain about the Emperor’s attitude toward Zhao Yelan.

The chess room was not large. Usually if the Emperor wanted to play chess, he could just call someone into the palace, and he rarely came to the Imperial Academy in person.

Zhao Yelan coughed hard a few more times before feeling better, pressed his throat, and walked to the chessboard to sit down.

“You’ve lost weight.” Zhao Xuan examined his figure. “How are you these days?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am very well,” Zhao Yelan said.

The two looked at each other silently, and after a moment, Zhao Xuan abruptly said: “Three teams of Gold Collar Guards all died at the hands of Yan Mingting.”

Zhao Yelan sighed deeply: “It was only when I checked the corpses that I found out that they were our Gold Collar Guard. Yan Mingting was very vigilant, and as soon as he found that someone was following us, he took action. Without His Majesty’s order, I dared not inform him of the existence of our Gold Collar Guard.”

“En.” Zhao Xuan nodded, inexplicably pleased with the phrase “our Gold Collar Guard,” and was even more convinced that this was not arranged by him. He said with a smile, “If that is the case, then I will take back the Gold Collar Guard and you will be more careful in the future. If you are in danger……”

“This official will be careful.”

“En……” Zhao Xuan placed a black chess piece and asked, “How is the Imperial Academy?”

“Fair,” Zhao Yelan said vaguely.

“Is there anyone who is impressive?”

“Ruan Xian.” Zhao Yelan set a white chess piece down leisurely. “He treats others comprehensively. It is difficult to guarantee that he possesses tact and sophistication, but further observation can be made.”

“En, continue to help me look. Let us see if we can find another Zhao Yelan from here,” Zhao Xuan joked.

Zhao Yelan played with his chess piece, the corners of his mouth curling slightly: “Your Majesty, it is your turn.”

While Zhao Xuan played chess, he thought about the sophisticated and tactful person and asked: “In the Imperial examination last year, Ruan Xian’s literature was indeed not as good as the first place scholar, but he found new ways to answer the questions and won in wit.”

“Exactly.”

“Then I’ll listen to you, and observe for a while longer. There are many vacancies in the court now……” Zhao Xuan felt as if he had returned to the past, chatting with him about the affairs of the court and almost forgetting that the most sought-after vacancy in the court today was the position of Deputy Prime Minister. He stiffly brought a halt to the topic and continued to ask, “Does Ruan Xian have other strengths?”

“He is very good-looking.”

Zhao Xuan was slightly taken aback: “Good-looking?”

“En.” 

“……” Zhao Xuan looked at him meaningfully. “When did you learn to judge others by their appearance?”

Zhao Yelan smiled back: “I have only known Ruan Xian for half an hour, so how could I know his nature well? Of course I can only judge him by his appearance.”

Only then did Zhao Xuan nod, wondering: “Is he really so good-looking that you are full of praise?”

“Hasn’t His Majesty seen him?”

“Of course I’ve seen him, he’s obviously not half as good as you……” Zhao Xuan stopped abruptly and looked up at the other party.

“Your Majesty jokes, how can this sick and weak official compare to him?” Zhao Yelan set down a chess piece calmly. “There are many men in the world, each with their own advantages. Ruan Xian and this official are not of the same kind.”

“What about Yan Mingting? Is he the same kind as you?”

“Why did His Majesty bring him up?” Zhao Yelan made no secret of his distaste. “He is wretched.”

Zhao Xuan laughed loudly, lost two games in a row, and said with a smile: “It is still the most comfortable to play against you. You will never let me win. The chess players will only try to let me get ahead.”

After playing chess in the Imperial Academy for half a day, Zhao Yelan rested for a while after returning to the General’s Mansion. When he woke up, the sun was already positioned in the west.

Not long after, Yan Mingting also returned. When he returned to his room, he saw that Xiao Gao was massaging Zhao Yelan’s legs. He walked over to pat Xiao Gao: “You’re still injured, why are you still attending to him? Go back and rest properly.”

“But my lord’s legs are uncomfortable,” Gao Tan muttered, unwilling to go.

“I’ll do it, you go back first.” Yan Mingting pushed him to the door, then sat next to Zhao Yelan. As soon as he touched his calf, his hand was slapped away. “You don’t need to do it, you’re clumsy. Get me a different person,” Zhao Yelan said indifferently.

“I haven’t massaged it yet, how do you know I’m clumsy?” Yan Mingting was unconvinced. “This kneading bones and pressing tendons, I’m good at it.”

Zhao Yelan put on a stern face and was about to push him away, when his calf suddenly hurt. He let out a muffled grunt. Immediately afterward, the painful place was relieved. The feeling of soreness and swelling faded, and his expression eased. He even enjoyed it a little.

“How about that, my technique isn’t bad, right?” Yan Mingting was like a dog showing affection to its master, smiling and wagging his tail straight at him.

“So obedient.” Zhao Yelan took a piece of sugarcane from the table and ate it, then smiled and patted Yan Mingting’s face. “Wāng^[2] twice if you’re listening?” (T/N: please read the footnote or this is not going to make any sense.)

“Wāng what?”

“Wāng Wāng.”

“Hey, I heard that, very cute.” Yan Mingting patted his head triumphantly

Zhao Yelan reacted belatedly. With a surge of energy and blood, he picked up a sugarcane and smacked him with it: “Yan Mingting! Don’t go too far!”

“I’m a fool and you curse me, ai, it’s so hard for me,” Yan Mingting complained to himself.

Zhao Yelan scoffed coldly, watching him patiently massage his legs in silence. The strength was even and the tension was moderate, causing him to let down his guard and speak with a rare good temper: “Today I read the annals of the late Emperor when he was alive. Only then did I find out that your first marriage was granted by the late Emperor himself.”

Yan Mingting wore an “as expected” expression. This fellow had already started to inquire about his early marriage, and he said he wasn’t drinking vinegar?

But he didn’t say this, so as not to annoy the other again, just pretending to be calm as he said: “Yes, ah, these royal children have a habit of giving marriages to others.”

Zhao Yelan nodded in agreement, feeling the same way.

However, for that first marriage, the late Emperor was only the matchmaker, and that woman was the eldest daughter of the current Prime Minister. At that time, the Prime Minister was a second-rank official whose daughter was well-read in poetry and books, both knowledgeable and reasonable.

The late Emperor decided to discuss with the two elders, and both parties had no objection, so the matter was settled.

Yan Mingting didn’t know anything about love affairs, and just felt that it was better to go into battle to kill the enemy. When he had returned to Beijing to recuperate, he didn’t have the face to see anyone, so the two of them had never met.

Unexpectedly, within two months of returning to the frontier, the capital sent a letter saying that his fiance had died of illness, and the matter was left alone.

“As far as I can remember, her name was Li Yanran,” Yan Mingting said.

“Did she really just die of illness?”

Yan Mingting was taken aback: “What do you mean?”

Zhao Yelan observed his expression and narrowed his eyes slightly: “You didn’t have any doubts about her death?”

“We had never met each other, not to mention that I had been at the border. If the letter from Beijing said she died of illness, then she died of illness. What else could I do? Perform a ritual to bring her back to life?” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan understood. Since he wasn’t investigating the cause of his fiance’s death, then it could only be another, more important person.

It was only that the whole nation knew that the old general died on the battlefield for the country. Could there be more to it?

Even the always-scheming Zhao Yelan couldn’t help but feel alarm in his heart. 

With years of war at the border, and the Yan family army living and dying to avert disaster, who acutally murdered old General Yan regardless of the safety of the common people?

It was fine if Yan Mingting succeeded in taking over the army. If it was a good-for-nothing waste who shouldered this responsibility, the entire Xuan Dynasty would experience disaster.

Zhao Yelan was immersed in his own thoughts when he suddenly felt a warm fingertip pressing on his brow, gently kneading twice. The eyebrows that had been squeezed together gradually loosened.

He raised his eyes to look at the other party, and Yan Mingting smiled: “Why were you frowning so hard?”

Zhao Yelan looked at him gravely.

Yan Mingting asked: “Is there really something strange about Li Yanran’s death?”

“I’m just skeptical. According to the annals, three days before she died of illness, she attended the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. If she was seriously ill, how could she attend? However, it is also possible that she suffered from a sudden illness, and only the Li family knew the details.” After Zhao Yelan finished speaking, he stared at his hand again.

Yan Mingting continued to rub his brow for him.

“After rubbing my legs with your hands, you touch my face?” Zhao Yelan asked coldly.

Yan Mingting immediately retracted it and smiled mischievously: “You are disgusted by your own legs?”

Zhao Yelan turned his head, put one arm on the table, and rested his chin in his hand, falling deep into thought. Even Yan Mingting couldn’t read his eyes.

Yan Mingting stared at his profile, just admiring it quietly. It was worthy of being a famous painting. It would be great if this painting could not make any noise, but when it opened its mouth, it was full of sarcasm and cynicism.

Ai.

After a long silence, Yan Mingting dropped his legs and asked: “How about I tell you about my second marriage?”

“Get lost.”

See, ba, just don’t open your mouth, you ruin everything when you open your mouth.

After dinner, Zhao Yelan was a little bored. He suddenly didn’t have to go to court or think about the opinions of officials for the Emperor, let alone exhaust his thoughts and ingenuity to calculate benefits. He was still not used to this kind of life.

It happened that Yan Mingting was about to leave the mansion at this time, so he asked casually, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going out for a while, why, do you want to go together?” 

“Since you have sincerely invited me, then I will go.”

Yan Mingting was confused. Seeing him neatly get into the sedan chair, he lifted his heels and followed him in, saying: “I’m going to Zhong Yuehong’s house for a drink.”

“You’re a real man, going to drink at the house of an unmarried girl in the middle of the night. What are you thinking?” Zhao Yelan cast a mocking glance at him. “If you want to take her as a concubine, just welcome her openly, why bother to be sneaky?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, if Zhong Yuehong hears you, I will be beaten,” Yan Mingting said with a smile. “Today is her mother’s birthday, and she just invited us to have a drink at home, why do you have such a strong smell of vinegar?”

“……” Zhao Yelan finally knew what it meant to play an instrument for a cow.^[3]

Moreover, this cow was just obstinate, and it seemed that nothing could make him bend.

Zhong Yuehong’s house was a little far away, and the sedan chair stopped after half an hour. Yan Mingting stepped out first and waited for a moment.

“I don’t know if you’ve been here before, but the road is not easy to walk on, so be careful.” As Yan Mingting spoke, he led the way with familiarity.

It was not bustling here, and there were only sporadic candles peeking out from the windows of each house, occasionally accompanied by spouses talking about trivial matters at home.

Zhao Yelan concentrated on looking at the surrounding environment. When he coughed, his voice echoed. He didn’t notice the hole that he stepped in, his whole body swayed, and he instinctively grabbed the person next to him to stabilize himself.

Yan Mingting laughed.

Zhao Yelan withdrew his hand in embarrassment, and the next moment, Yan Mingting took the initiative to grab his wrist.

“This section of the road is dark and narrow, and the sedan chair can’t get in, so just follow me,” Yan Mingting said.

A wise man knew better than to fight when the odds were against him. In order to avoid a shameful stumble, Zhao Yelan followed him carefully all the way inside without shaking off his hand.

After passing through the dark alley, he heard a commotion, which was caused by the group of lieutenant generals.

When the two appeared at the door, the laughter stopped abruptly. The people who were drinking and playing a finger-guessing game stiffened and paused, looking dumbfoundedly at the two. They couldn’t help looking at hands being held together by the two of them, and someone lost their grip on a bowl, dropping it to shatter on the ground.

Zhao Yelan looked down in bewilderment and quickly freed his wrist. Pretending to be composed, he put his hands behind his back and leisurely met the eyes of the group of people.

On the contrary, this group of people didn’t dare to look him in the eyes anymore.

“General, you’re here.” Zhong Yuehong was the first to break the silence, greeting, “Zhao-daren, come and sit down. We didn’t know you were coming, so we started drinking first.”

“Right, right, we didn’t know,” He Cuizhang immediately said. “General, you’re late, you will be fined a drink!”

Yan Mingting walked over and proudly drank a cup. At this time, an old woman came out with food and drink. Yan Mingting stepped forward to say hello and let her open the gift box.

Zhao Yelan looked over curiously, and saw a kitchen knife inside.

“……” Was this a reasonable birthday gift?

“Oh, General, thank you for the great gift, I like it so much.” The old woman took it cheerfully. “Your gift is the one I like the most!”

“……” Zhao Yelan was speechless. He found an empty seat to sit down, and He Cuizhang happened to be on his left.

As if guessing that he was confused, He Cuizhang took the initiative to explain: “My lord doesn’t know that Zhong Yuehong’s mother is a butcher who kills pigs for a living, so the General gave her a butcher’s knife.”

Zhao Yelan paused: “Butcher? Where is her father?”

He Cuizhang hurriedly motioned for him to keep his voice down, but Zhang Yuehong, who had very good hearing, heard him. She took a few bottles of unopened wine, put them on the table, and sat down on the other side: “He ran away with a woman of unknown origin. In order to support me, my mother had no choice but to take over the job at the stall.”

Zhao Yelan glanced at Mother Zhong again. She was slightly fat and her hands were covered in thick calluses, but she had a cheerful face and kept adding food and wine for everyone, busy at work.

Mother Zhong pushed Yan Mingting to sit down to drink and eat food. Seeing Zhao Yelan next to him, she said happily: “This is Zhao Yelan, Zhao-daren, right?”

Zhao Yelan nodded.

“You girl, isn’t this just a small birthday party? Why did you bring the General and Zhao-daren?” Mother Zhong said a few words to Zhong Yuehong as if to cast blame, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her face. So many great people came to celebrate a small butcher’s birthday, it was an honor.

“Yuehong is popular, and everyone was willing to come, but I am afraid Auntie will think we eat too much,” Yan Mingting said with a smile.

“That’s right, that’s right, Yuehong is very powerful in our military camp, and everyone likes her, so why would we not come to eat and drink on your birthday?” He Cuizhang said.

The others echoed this as well, drinking again after saying a few words.

The table was full of people, and Zhao Yelan sat for a long time, watching this group of rustic fellows exchanging toasts and making a lot of noise. Getting up impatiently, he went to the courtyard alone and couldn’t figure out how he had ended up here. 

The moonlight was strong, and it would be a long walk to find the sedan chair from here. The road was not easy to walk, and it would be easy to encounter enemies. After much deliberation, he could only wait for Yan Mingting and go back together.

“Zhao-daren, I feel embarrassed, there is nothing good to eat and drink in my home, I’ve neglected you,” Mother Zhong said, suddenly appearing behind him.

He turned and said lightly, “It’s nothing.”

“You are so handsome and well-dressed, no wonder Yuehong always says that you are prettier than the people in paintings.” Mother Zhong smiled simply and honestly.

Zhao Yelan smiled slightly: “She doesn’t know me well.”

Mother Zhong nodded and sighed: “This girl was not well-liked by the neighbors when she was a child. She jumped up and down all day, dominating the streets and alleys, never regarding herself as a daughter of the family. These years’ salaries are either sent home or just used to buy swords and spears. I thought she had already raised herself as a man, but I saw her washing her hands with soap recently, and she always says that Zhao-daren in the General’s Mansion dresses like a fairy in the sky and looks exceedingly beautiful in whatever clothes he wears……”

Zhao Yelan looked at her in silence.

Mother Zhong took out an old purse from her bosom, poured out the fine silver inside, and held it in front of him with both hands: “Zhao-daren, I don’t know much about the world, and I don’t know where you buy your clothes. Can you help me use this silver to buy a beautiful dress for Yuehong?”

Zhao Yelan lowered his eyes to look at the pile of broken silver which had passed through the hands of many people, stained with oil and stench from the pork stall.

“Is it not enough?” Mother Zhong was a little embarrassed. “I’ll get some more……”

“It’s enough.” Zhao Yelan reached out to take the silver, weighed it, and said without batting an eye, “With this much, it is enough to buy several pieces.”

Mother Zhong was dubious, but seeing that he had only a mild expression on his face, he shouldn’t be lying. So, feeling relieved, she said with a smile: “That is good. Thank you for your help, my lord, you are such a good person.”

“I am not a good person.” Zhao Yelan pocketed the silver and heard a slight laugh. When he looked up, Yan Mingting had come to stand at the door at some point, folding his arms and looking at him with a slight smile.

He looked away.

“Auntie, we still have something to do, so we’ll take our leave.” Yan Mingting came over and bid farewell to Mother Zhong.

“Eh, alright, come back next time to play at home, I’ll cook for you.” Mother Zhong knew that these bigshots had a lot to do, so she didn’t keep them and sent them to the gate.

When Zhao Yelan turned his head, he could still see a figure waving their hands in the distance. He turned his head expressionlessly, not knowing what he was thinking, and didn’t even notice that Yan Mingting had grabbed his wrist.

Sitting back in the sedan chair again, his wrist was bare, the slight heat vanishing suddenly. Yan Mingting had already withdrawn his hand when he looked down. He didn’t pursue it further, and asked, “Going back so early? Why don’t you have a few more drinks with them?”

“I’m going to court tomorrow,” Yan Mingting replied. “Besides, it’s getting so late. Don’t you go to bed early?”

Zhao Yelan: “When do I go to bed early?”

“Last night.” Yan Mingting looked at him. “I thought you would be worried about Gao Tan’s safety and not be able to fall asleep, but I didn’t expect that you would already be asleep when I came back.”

Zhao Yelan had pretended to be asleep in order to avoid confronting Yan Mingting face-to-face, and he had to wait for Gao Tan’s report before he could figure out how to face the other party. He said calmly: “It is because I trust in your martial arts, and I knew you would definitely be able to bring Gao Tan back.”

Yan Mingting immediately beamed with joy: “I knew it!”

“……”

Zhao Yelan deeply suspected that this person’s brain pathways were developing in a strange direction again. Maybe he had already started to imagine that he loved him so much that he couldn’t extricate himself, and even started to practice martial arts for him.

“I give up, ba. I won’t practice martial arts,” Zhao Yelan said abruptly.

Yan Mingting was startled, and his smile froze: “How do you know what I’m thinking?!”

Zhao Yelan: “…………” You really thought so?!

The two of them looked at each other for a moment and then glanced away, each with their own thoughts. Zhao Yelan couldn’t be bothered to talk to the fool. He opened a corner of the curtain and ordered the bearers to stop when they were almost at the tailor shop.

He put the money in his pocket on the countertop. Looking at these dirty pieces of broken silver with some surprise, in disbelief that they had been taken out of Zhao Yelan’s purse, the shopkeeper cautiously said: “Zhao-daren, do you want to buy a few handkerchiefs?”

“Take out your newest clothes and let’s have a look.” Zhao Yelan paused, coughed slightly, and subconsciously lowered his voice. “It is for a young lady.”

“My lord, you want to buy clothes for a girl? Are you not afraid that General Yan will find out?” After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he saw General Yan appear from behind him with a grin.

The shopkeeper immediately covered his mouth, nodding again and again, and led them to the side, introducing: “These are the dresses for girls. As far as patterns and styles are concerned, our household is the best in the entire capital. I don’t know which one you two want, ah?”

Yan Mingting didn’t know anything about this business. After looking at the clothes hanging all over the walls, he only felt that his eyes were a little dazzled, and then looked at Zhao Yelan.

Zhao Yelan browsed casually and didn’t select anything ready-to-wear, but touched the fabric on the tables and finally selected three silks and satins, ordering: “Customize this and replace the inner shin coat with trousers.”

“What?” The shopkeeper suspected that he hadn’t heard clearly. “My lord, this is a dress. I have never heard of any lady who wears trousers under a dress. It’s not meant to be worn by men, aren’t you embarrassing me?”

“Then I’ll just embarrass you. I’ll come to pick it up in a few days. If you can’t even fulfill these requirements, then you won’t be able to do business with my household in the future.” Zhao Yelan took out a few more silver ingots, put them on the table, and turned to leave.

Yan Mingting followed and said with a smile: “Our Zhao-daren is rather considerate. Knowing that Yuehong is used to being armed, even the clothes have to be custom-made for her.”

Zhao Yelan gave him a sideways glance: “Will you die if you don’t talk?”

“Why are you so anxious? I’m complimenting you.” Yan Mingting smiled even more happily. “I would like to thank you on behalf of Yuehong and Auntie.”

“Since you want to give thanks, just don’t talk.” 

“What do you want?”

“Money, manpower, one of the two, you choose it yourself.”

“Zhao-daren really does not trade at a loss.” Yan Mingting looked around, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he dragged him to the other side of the street. “I know what to give you.”

A moment later, Zhao Yelan was standing by a small river, looking at the blurry reflection in the water and stiffly holding tanghulu. Turning to look at the person eating tanghulu beside him, his face was gloomy: “This is your thank-you gift?”

“Yes, how delicious this is!” Yan Mingting bit down on another hawthorn berry as if he was eating some kind of delicacy. With a smile on his face, he ate a bunch in a few bites and looked helplessly at the one in Zhao Yelan’s hand. “Do you not like to eat them? How about I help you out?”

“…….”

If the other party didn’t take the initiative to ask, he might have thrown it at him in disgust, but when Yan Mingting asked this, he immediately bit into one. “You can’t have it.”

Yan Mingting saw that he had sucked it down in a hurry, his cheeks bulging. There was some childishness hidden under that indifferent skin, and he couldn’t help laughing: “You are a strange and interesting person.”

Zhao Yelan didn’t think that was high praise, so he turned his back and didn’t look at him anymore. It was a shame that after eating three, he got a little tired of them, which was discovered by Yan Mingting.

“Come on, leave the rest to me.” Yan Mingting rubbed his hands eagerly.

“I won’t give it to you even if I have to throw it away.” Zhao Yelan walked past him, but Yan Mingting took the things in his hands first and quickly bit off two sugar-coated hawthorns.

“Have you not eaten for hundreds of years?” Zhao Yelan frowned.

“Ai, I’ve been craving this stuff since I was a child, and haven’t eaten it but a few times,” Yan Mingting said carelessly. “Those few times, they were all eaten in the capital. People like you who have lived in the capital since childhood and grew up carefree and without worries wouldn’t understand.”

Zhao Yelan scoffed coldly: “Carefree and without worries?”

Yan Mingting paused and looked at him uncertainly.

“Do you think everyone in the capital grew up carefree and without worries?”

“It was a slip of the tongue. Naturally, there are some unfortunate children, such as He Cuizhang and Zhong Yuehong……” Yan Mingting looked at him unhurriedly. “How about you? Were you carefree and without worries?”

“What concern is it of yours?” Zhao Yelan finished speaking with a half smile, then turned and left the small river.

“I’m just asking……by the way, there is something I’m curious about. How did you meet the Emperor? He was powerless at the time, how could you work for him?” Yan Mingting followed him all the way and didn’t stop talking at all.

There were many people coming and going on the streets. Among them were many successful Imperial examination candidates with foreign accents, who had come to the capital with great ambition to participate in the exams.

When passing Hongxiu House, girls with tulle shawls could be seen at the gates, luring guests inside. Some clever girls would specially select from the examination candidates passing by in order to make a fortune from them.

Looking at the scenes of women recruiting all around, and the thin-skinned young men at the doors, Yan Mingting asked with emotion: “Why don’t you take the Imperial examination directly? With your talent, winning top marks would be easy, right?”

“Yan Mingting, you are trying to cause trouble!” Zhao Yelan had endured all the way, and finally couldn’t help but yell, “When is it your responsibility to take care of my business? !”

Yan Mingting went quiet. Clearly he was angry, and not just a little. He quickly apologized: “Forgive me, I was talking too much.”

“Yo, did you two young masters come together?” An attractive beauty walked over with her slender and supple waist swaying. “Would you like to come in and have some wine? Our girls will keep you satisfied ~”

“No need, we’re just passing by……eh, Zhao Yelan, where are you going! Is that a place you can go into!” Yan Mingting called to Zhao Yelan in a panic, but Zhao Yelan turned his head and ran toward the brothel so decisively that he had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow.

As soon as Zhao Yelan entered, he attracted the attention of many of the girls. As soon as the girls saw his clothing, they knew that he simply must be rich. Looking at that face again, a lot of them immediately jumped on the opportunity.

“Call the most beautiful girls you have here for me.”

After speaking, Zhao Yelan tossed out a purse so skillfully that Yan Mingting suspected that he was a regular customer. He secretly asked the girl next to him: “Do you know him?”

“I know him, ah.”

“Who is he?”

“My future husband~” The girl held her face and smiled shyly, and in the next moment rushed forward as well.

Yan Mingting: “……”

With such a big commotion, everyone upstairs and downstairs glanced over. Yan Mingting still saved face and lowered his head, but the smell of cosmetics in this building made his nose start to itch again.

“Yo, who is this young man?” The Madam brought a few girls down from the second floor, dismissed all the girls around Zhao Yelan, and looked at him with a smile. These here are all pretty girls. The best one already has a customer, I truly apologize, but you can pick a few here, young master, and take them with you, ah.”

Yan Mingting was stunned for a moment. This Madam was quite different from what he had imagined. Dressed in red clothing, with gold beads and silver hairpins, her features were very beautiful and her bearing was elegant. She was not like commonplace women, even better than these girls in front of him.

But as it happened, nothing could be perfect. There was a scar stretching from the brow to the cheek on that beautiful face, and it was like adding a bit of bitter water to fine wine.

Just when Yan Mingting was feeling sorry, he heard Zhao Yelan say: “I just want the most beautiful girl, bring her down quickly.”

“I truly dare not, Qingyan is accompanying Liu-daren from the Ministry of Rituals.” The Madam fluttered her round fan. “I don’t know if the young master dares to offend Liu-daren?”

“That’s Zhao Yelan!” Someone from upstairs said.

Everyone was shocked, and the girls also looked at him in surprise.

Now Yan Mingting was sure it was Zhao Yelan’s first time coming to the brothel, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Is it really Zhao-daren?” The Madam immediately changed her expression and told the people next to her, “Go, bring Qingyan down from the room.”

Seeing the situation getting worse and worse, Yan Mingting finally stood forward: “Zhao Yelan, follow me back.”

“Is this General Yan?” The Madam’s eyes lit up. “So handsome, do you want to stay and play together?”

Yan Mingting’s face darkened. Seeing Zhao Yelan standing still and staring at the room upstairs, he simply lifted him up.

“What are you doing? !” Zhao Yelan exclaimed, and was taken away amongst the jeering and laughter of the crowd.

He could only imagine what kinds of rumors there would be in Beijing tomorrow.

– – Shocking! Zhao Yelan lived up to his infamy and snatched a brothel’s famous beauty; Yan Mingting was furious and carried him back in public!

Yan Mingting brought Zhao Yelan back to the mansion without stopping, and put him on a chair. Seeing that he was about to resist, he pressed his arms firmly: “If you move again, I will draw my sword.”

Zhao Yelan looked at him sullenly, but took no other action, so Yan Mingting tried to persuade him: “I know it was me who spoke out of proportion just now, and you were angry. Don’t go to that kind of place to play, it’s not good for your health.”

Zhao Yelan: “……”

“Your fountain is originally poor, what kind of tricks can you play? You don’t want to be clever all your life just to end up dying under the peonies, do you?”

In the end, Zhao Yelan couldn’t hold back and kicked him hard.

Yan Mingting laughed: “Yes, that’s it, just let it out on me if you’re angry. What were you doing running off to the red-light district?”

Zhao Yelan: “If I vent my anger on you, you will threaten me with a sword.”

“It’s just to scare you, come on, just kick me.” Yan Mingting stood up straight with a heroic look on his face.

“Then you sit down and don’t resist.”

“No problem.” Yan Mingting immediately changed seats with him and sat obediently in the chair.

“What should I do if you resist?”

“I swear, if I resist, I will be your grandson!” 

After Yan Mingting spoke these firm words, he saw that Zhao Yelan didn’t do anything, but went to the room to fetch the rope, saying in surprise, “You, you, what are you going to do?”

When Housekeeper Qin heard that the two masters had returned to the mansion, he brought Xiao Gao and a group of servants to the courtyard. He had originally wanted to discuss the anniversary of the death of the old general, but as soon as he arrived at the door, he saw the General tied to a chair with his chin being pinched by Zhao Yelan: “Stay obediently and don’t move around.”

Just as Gao Tan was about to speak, Housekeeper Qin covered his mouth and made a gesture to everyone, slipping away bent at the waist.

Xiao Gao: “Wuwuwu, why are you stopping me?”

“You almost spoiled the General and his wife’s happy occasion!” Housekeeper Qin said bitterly. Seeing that he was so stupefied, he only waved his hand and said, “You all go and boil some hot water.”

Xiao Gao thought that the General’s Mansion was no good at all! There was nowhere to display his skills, and he was always dragged off to boil hot water!

The two people in the room naturally heard the footsteps of the servants. Zhao Yelan turned around and closed the doors and windows without leaving a single gap.

“What do you intend to do?” Yan Mingting looked down at the ropes on his body, his face flushed and his heart beating hard. “You shouldn’t be making advances and forcing me to submit, ba?”

Zhao Yelan circled the table. Hearing this, he looked back at him with his lips curled up: “You’re always saying I like you, but when you mentioned it, you smiled so happily. Is it me who likes you, or you who likes me?”

Yan Mingting smiled once, as if stunned by this question. His brain stopped working for a moment, and his body even felt slightly numb. When Zhao Yelan walked towards him slowly, he heard the sound of his heart beating again, much faster than his opponent’s footsteps.

Zhao Yelan’s facial features gradually and clearly appeared before his eyes. Yan Mingting’s Adam’s apple moved slightly and he subconsciously swallowed. His expression was at a loss and mixed with indescribable expectations. When he was about to speak, he saw what the other was holding in his hand and was shocked: “What are you doing with the incense! Put that thing down! Don’t use it, don’t use it, ah!”

Yan Mingting struggled on the chair. Zhao Yelan smiled slightly, lit several incense sticks, and placed them in a circle around him: “Dare to resist and you are my grandson.”

“Achoo! Zhao Ye……achoo! Let me tell you……achoo! I’m going to pull out…..achoo, my sword!”

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[1] A Bachelor here is an accomplished scholar with a degree. ⮐

[2] Wāng (汪) can mean several things, and can also be used as an onomatopoeia for a dog barking. So wāng wāng = bark bark. I couldn’t come up with an English equivalent for this wordplay. ⮐

[3] To play an instrument for a cow is to play to the wrong audience/reason with stubborn people. ⮐

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Chapter Eighteen <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty

Ye Ci struggled through the cycle of falling into a coma-like sleep – waking up – being physically exhausted, and then comatose again for an unknown amount of time.

This time when he opened his eyes, it was noon on an unspecified day. The Omega glands at the nape of his neck throbbed from depletion and over-extraction.

His whole body was warm and dry, smelling of light citrus shampoo, and his scalp was slightly hot, as if had been blown with a hair dryer just a moment ago.

Ye Ci finally understood where the rumbling noise in his dreams came from.

“Are you awake, baby?”

A finger brushed the tip of his nose affectionately. Ye Ci’s eyes, which were sluggish due to exhaustion, suddenly came to life, and he followed that finger to look at Huo Tinglan.

The nightgown on his body had been changed a few times. The silk was fragile, and some of them had been scratched by Ye Ci. After being scratched, there were some red and white spots like blood and sweat, and Huo Tinglan threw them directly into the trash.

The light silk fit snugly like waves on water. The opening at the neckline was suspicious, revealing full, thick chest muscles.

He exercised properly, and his form was excellent. The shape of each muscle was just right, and there was a shallow and narrow line down the middle.

Ye Ci’s fair skin was already painted with green and red, and Huo Tinglan was not much better, with scabbed-over scratches, somewhat comical teeth marks, reddish fingerprints……

Especially the chest.

Followed by the easily scratchable back.

Like some sort of crazy little cat had wrecked him.

No wonder some people said that the permanent mark between an Alpha and an Omega was like a battle that lasted for several days.

Feeling guilty, Ye Ci hurriedly lowered his eyes. After a little while, he asked with a hoarse voice: “What, what date is it today?”

Huo Tinglan smiled and said a date.

“Ah……” Ye Ci counted the days in a daze. It had been four days, and the first thought that crossed his mind was that his summer study schedule was now completely invalid, and school was about to start soon. What followed was four rounds of memory playback from these days and nights. Aside from drinking water, replenishing his energy with energy bars and sleeping in a semi-conscious state, the rest of the time……

Insanity.

Was that really him?

Hot blood suddenly filled his head and face, and his eardrums buzzed with embarrassment.

Huo Tinglan was extremely wicked, trying to figure out Ye Ci’s thoughts through his micro-expressions. Knowing what he was recalling, he lost no time in taking the shot and said in a satisfied tone: “I thought you would be shy, you cried so aggrievedly at first……” Then with a low smile, “I didn’t expect you to be so enthusiastic later.”

Very different from the previous life.

“ ! ”

“Huo-shushu ! ! ! ”

The innocent male high school student’s pupils trembled violently, his face flushed, and he wanted to kill someone on the spot!

It wasn’t his fault, after all.

It was Huo Tinglan who saw through his proclivities. Deliberately using his big chest was not right. It should be said that those pectoral muscles……seduced him.

He had already been forcibly stimulated into a fever period, and his will was strangely unstable. Every time Huo Tinglan said, “Just until the mark is finished,” Huo Tinglan would just, just……

Huo-shushu was shameless!

Ye Ci was as anxious as a little ant on an iron plate. After going round and round for a while, he suddenly approached, red-faced, and grabbed the collar of Huo Tinglan’s nightgown to pull it tightly closed, saying with slight annoyance, “Don’t, don’t show it anymore……”

He really couldn’t go again. His whole body was about to be wrecked by Huo Tinglan.

Beauty was misleading.

Ye Ci gritted his teeth, imitating Huo Tinglan by putting the blame on others.

– – He had a distinctly soft temper, and at the moment he actually showed a bit of a princely appearance.

Huo Tinglan embraced him with a suppressed smile, pressed his lips against his citrus-scented hair, and said softly, “Alright, baby, I’ll stop teasing you.”

Warmth flowed silently in the small world between them. Ye Ci remained silent and rested his chin on Huo Tinglan’s collarbone like a kitten. A permanent mark would make the spiritual connection between an Alpha and an Omega closer, and Ye Ci felt as if a fruit had grown out of thin air in his chest, full and swollen. The sweet and sour juice was pounded by his heartbeat, splashing in the atrium again and again, throbbing happily. He turned his head unconsciously and rubbed his cheek against Huo Tinglan’s neck, as if he was so happy that he didn’t know what to do.

“Are you hungry?” After snuggling for a while, Huo Tinglan broke the silence and rubbed Ye Ci’s slightly concave abdomen.

For the past four days, they hadn’t eaten anything substantial, relying on energy drinks and energy bars to maintain their strength.

That little stomach was already empty, except for……

Huo Tinglan smirked, reluctantly dismissing those colorful thoughts: “Let’s go downstairs and get something to eat.”

“En.” Ye Ci nodded obediently, stepped into some slippers, and got up. As a result, his buttocks were only five centimeters away from the mattress when Huo Tinglan fiercely grabbed him around the waist and he staggered back to sit on his lap. The strength of that embrace was downright ungentlemanly.

Immediately afterwards, Huo Tinglan’s heavy, fiery breath blew on the back of his neck – – he pressed the tip of his nose against Ye Ci’s glands and took a few eager, intoxicated breaths without warning, looking like a carnivorous animal that had suddenly gone berserk at the sight of blood.

Ye Ci shrank his neck in shock.

“……Sorry.” Huo Tinglan still hugged him without letting go, his eyes dark as his desire surged, dense and fiery. “I only just finished the mark, and I can’t quite contain myself.”

After the initial establishment of the permanent mark, an Omega would develop a heightened attachment to the Alpha for a period of time. Even an Omega who was usually cold and introverted tended to become soft and sticky. The unusually strong warmth and sweetness that Ye Ci felt before was because of this change. Correspondingly, an Alpha’s possessiveness and desire for the Omega would reach its peak during this period. Even the most calm and stable Alpha would inevitably do all kinds of illogical things, and Ye Ci’s act of “getting up and leaving” just now had stimulated Huo Tinglan, who was currently extremely sensitive, tearing away his presence of “normality” a moment ago.

The duration of this period varied from person to person, and it was positively correlated with the depth of the relationship between Alpha and Omega. The deeper the bond, the longer it lasted, which could be weeks to months as the intensity continued to decrease.

Ye Ci’s physiological knowledge class was not in vain during this time, so he immediately remembered this phase.

“I’m just, just hungry. I’ll go to the first floor and eat, I won’t, won’t go outside.” He tried to appease Huo Tinglan with the “talking skills” from the book.

“I know.” Huo Tinglan closed his eyes and said helplessly, “What can I do, baby……I don’t want you to leave my bed.”

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Chapter Forty-Two << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Four

Ye Ci, who claimed to be “not the kind of person who cries often,” actually had his defenses broken down faster than any Omega.

The Alpha portion of his glands had shrunk and lost their function, replaced by the brand new Omega glands.

But the sort of personality they formed was difficult to erase.

When the arrow was on the string and he realized that he was going to be marked by a stronger Alpha, Ye Ci struggled like a small silver fish out of water.

The scales were stained with water droplets, dragging thick and bright traces of different shades across the graphite silk.

It smelled like sea water.

His pajamas were also damp with sweat.

The omega glands at the nape of his neck had received a temporary mark.

The young skin was as tight as a drum, covering the sharp, bony part of the spine. Huo Tinglan pierced it with the tips of his teeth, leaving two shallow round holes, which were oozing blood. 

Huo Tinglan pushed down the collar of Ye Ci’s pajamas and gently wiped away the blood on the back of his neck with a disinfectant wipe.

Immediately throwing away the wet wipe, he put his dry fingertips to the corners of Ye Ci’s eyes and touched his tears.

Ye Ci was crying.

He had said hours ago, “I’m not the kind of person who cries often.” Fearing that Huo Tinglan would see, he had buried his face deep in the soft goose down pillow. A mouthful of small white teeth bit the corner of the pillowcase tightly, and his eyes were soaked with tears, shining extremely brightly as he cried secretly and quietly.

How pitiful.

It was a shame that an Alpha in his susceptible period, only a step away from a permanent mark, was no different from a tiger or a wolf.

A few hours had passed, and his humanity had long since perished.

“Baby, be obedient……” Huo Tinglan comforted him gently, wiping Ye Ci’s flushed and wet face with the back of his hand, and said without conscience, “Why are you crying, I haven’t done anything yet……don’t be afraid.”

He lowered his dark eyes and stared at Ye Ci intently. The corners of his lips were straight, and the warmth of his usual smile was gone, but his voice was still soft, coaxing his Omega intimately.

But for some reason, that tone of voice was inexplicably like a villain coaxing a child in an empty house to open the door……Baby, open the door, Huo-shushu is not a bad person, don’t be afraid……saying that, he waved the sweet, bright candy in his hand behind the peephole of the door as bait – – a bag of candy called pleasure. But once Ye Ci in the empty house opened the door for him in order to get the candy, he rushed in and did evil, even seizing the house. On the walls, the furniture, the floor, he used white graffiti to mark every corner with his message.

“Huo-shushu, I don’t, don’t want to be marked……” Ye Ci buried his face aggrievedly so that he couldn’t see the Alpha’s sly and vicious expression. He thought that since he was coaxed by Huo-shushu, Huo Tinglan still had some reason left.

This misunderstanding caused his defenses to collapse, and he suffered a catastrophe. The sense of invasion brought on by temporary marks and permanent marks were not of the same order at all, especially for someone who had been an Alpha. He thought about this matter too simply, bursting into tears as he stammered and begged: “Can, can we change it to another day and, and you can mark me then, Huo-shushu, please……”

“……Okay.” Huo Tinglan grinned, revealing the carnivore-like tips of his teeth.

His nightgown was slightly unbuttoned, and his shoulders were elegant and straight. Even with this almost evil expression, he still looked like a gentleman.

Ye Ci didn’t expect him to agree so happily, and his eyes lit up as if he had been saved.

The beautiful Omega who stammered and begged him for mercy, his eyes as clear as frozen ice melting into ripples of water, his clear voice slightly hoarse as he shyly called “shushu” over and over again……

All of these elements were provoking his dark side as an Alpha.

“……Say it again, baby.”

After a moment of silence, he gave conditions.

Let him stammer that long sentence while unstable with emotion.

Truly, this was not something this person could do.

Ye Ci knew he was bullying, but he could only curl up, sobbing, and repeat that sentence in a plaintive voice.

“Can we change, change……”

He stuttered again.

“Can, can……”

“Can……”

The more anxious that clumsy little tongue was, the more difficult it was for him to speak.

“Can we change it to another day and you can mark me then……”

– – When trying for the tenth time, he finally had a hint of being able to speak fluently, but before the last two words could come out, his lips were blocked.

“ ! ”

What a scoundrel!

Ye Ci tried to resist, but the last barrier was lifted, and the marking had officially begun.

The feeling of being possessed, seized, conquered, mixed with unbelievable pleasure ran through his nerves and veins, eroding every cell.

He had the illusion that he was going to melt into red tears like a candle from the inside out. Shock and fear interweaved, and he tugged on Huo Tinglan’s cuffs and pulled at his shoulders, wanting to escape far away. But out of Omega instinct, he hid shyly in Huo Tinglan’s arms, scratching the lake blue silk with his fingertips and dragging a few long, bright red marks on Huo Tinglan’s back.

“Scratch, baby, scratch me to death……” Huo Tinglan was elated at his aggressiveness, and didn’t care about this little injury at all.

The marking process continued – –

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Chapter Forty-One << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Three

Zhao Yelan examined the corpses on the spot. There was gold thread on the collars, so there was no doubt that they were Gold Collar Guards.

There were twelve people in total, exactly one team, and all of them were cut down by Yan Mingting. As for the group of people that Gao Tan went after, they should be others creating difficulties. 

He covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and walked to the sedan chair. Looking at the group of trembling bearers, he asked: “Are you certain it was the men in black who escaped?”

“Yes, yes,” one of the more courageous ones replied: “Then your servant chased after them, my lord. They are all, all very powerful…..”

Zhao Yelan said: “Go home.”

Some of the bearers were so frightened that they had collapsed on the ground. When they heard the order, they got up unsteadily and hurried back, carrying the sedan chair with pale faces.

The mansion was preparing dinner. Housekeeper Qin saw him return and asked cautiously: “Is there anything that you want to eat tonight?”

“I won’t eat.”

“One must eat to live, how can you not eat?” Housekeeper Qin followed behind him, earnestly explaining the importance of sustenance.

“Yan Mingting went to rescue Gao Tan,” Zhao Yelan said suddenly.

“Ha?”

“Still want me to eat?” Zhao Yelan turned around and asked.

Housekeeper Qin sucked in a deep breath and immediately went to summon the people in the mansion, rushing out of the gate in a grandiose manner and a short while later turning back again: “My lord, may I ask where our General is now?”

“How would I know?” Zhao Yelan went to the study room and picked up a book to read. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the trembling servants at the door. “What are you doing here, don’t you have work that needs to be done?”

Housekeeper Qin waved his hand to drive the others back, and asked: “My lord, are you not worried about the General at all?”

“There is nothing to worry about, isn’t he a master of martial arts?” Zhao Yelan said calmly.

Housekeeper Qin had no choice but to go back to the front courtyard, standing at the gate and looking around from time to time.

It wasn’t until late at night, when the moon and stars were scarce, that Housekeeper Qin sat on the threshold and dozed off. Hearing the sound of hoofbeats, he stood up in a panic and saw Yan Mingting returning with Gao Tan.

“Aiya, General, you’re back. Nothing happened, did it?” 

“It’s fine.” Yan Mingting handed his horse over to the servants. “Where is Zhao Yelan?”

“Furen has been worrying about you, he didn’t even eat dinner.” Housekeeper Qin thought for a moment and added, “But Furen has confidence in you, he firmly believes that you are strong in martial arts and will bring Xiao Gao back, so he has been reading in the study. Perhaps he has fallen asleep.”

“I see, you go get a doctor.” Yan Mingting took Gao Tan to the bedroom, but Zhao Yelan was already asleep.

“My lord always goes to bed early,” Gao Tan whispered.

“Okay, you go back to your room to rest first, and let the doctor check on you later,” Yan Mingting said.

“Many thanks, General, for saving my life.” Gao Tan stepped back obediently.

Yan Mingting stood in the room for a long time, staring at the figure’s back, and quietly prepared to go to bed.

After everything returned to silence and darkness, Yan Mingting called softly: “Zhao Yelan, I have something to tell you.”

No response.

“Are you really asleep?”

The person on the bed remained motionless.

Yan Mingting sighed lightly, thinking of all that had happened today, and fell asleep with complicated emotions.

After hearing the sound of even breathing, Zhao Yelan opened his eyes, stared into the dark for a while, and then fell asleep peacefully.

The sky was slightly bright the next day, and when Zhao Yelan woke up, Yan Mingting had already gone to court.

Hearing a brief knock on the door, he responded, “Come in.”

“My lord, I’m back.” Gao Tan pushed the door open and entered. Seeing him sitting up, he stepped forward to gather clothes for him to change into.

“Hmm.” Zhao Yelan looked sideways at him. “Are you injured?’

“A little flesh wound.” Gao Tan patted his chest. “The group of people whipped me, then took out money to tempt me, and I recruited.”

“What did you recruit for?”

“According to your orders, if one is kidnapped and questioned, one should just pretend to confess, mixing the true with the false,” Gao Tan said. “It’s just that this group of people was a bit strange.”

Yesterday Gao Tan was guarding beside the sedan chair, and saw Yan Mingting suddenly rush into the bamboo forest and start fighting with the men in black. Just when he was debating whether to reveal his skills and help, another group of men in black slowly appeared, clearly running towards him, and he couldn’t avoid it even if he tried. 

After chasing him out of the bamboo forest, these men tied him up, blindfolded him, and took him to a woodshed.

The group covered their faces and threatened him to tell the truth. He refused, so they lashed him with a whip. He refused again, and these people looked at each other, but after a long time, didn’t give him a second lash.

It made him a little depressed. It was written in books that there would be many kinds of torture and he would be beaten to confess. He was ready to beg for mercy, but the group of people stopped beating him.

“A man came from behind and stood outside the door. He threw a large bag of silver ingots through it and told me to be obedient, and that I could get more treasures in the future, so I at once seized the opportunity to be recruited.” After Gao Tan finished speaking he asked with a smile, “My lord, am I not clever?”

Zhao Yelan shook his head helplessly and smiled. It was only because he met these particular kidnappers that he didn’t suffer. He got dressed, sat down at the table, and asked, “Tell me carefully, what did they ask you?’

“They asked me how long I’ve been with you.”

“How did you answer?”

“I told the truth, that I’ve followed you since I was twelve. Then they asked me who your enemies were. I told them all the officials I knew the names of, some true and some false, making them confused,” Gao Tan said proudly.

Zhao Yelan nodded.

“They also asked me if I knew a boy named Bao Lun.”

“Bao Lun?” Zhao Yelan frowned slightly.

“En, I didn’t know who that was, so I just said I didn’t know. Then they asked me if twelve years ago, you had ever been in a military camp or were proficient with poisons.” Gao Tan said, “I told them I was not your servant at the time, so I didn’t know.”

“Twelve years ago……” Zhao Yelan’s eyes narrowed. Recalling the major events that had happened twelve years ago, he took out a brush and paper and started to record everything that had left an impression.

In the end, there were only two points that could be connected with the General’s Mansion.

One was that General Yan died for his country, and his body was sent back to the capital for a state funeral. 

The second was the death of Yan Mingting’s first fiance, and the rumors that began to spread in the capital.

It seemed that what Yan Mingting wanted to investigate was related to these two matters. Zhao Yelan poured a cup of tea, moistened his throat, and continued to inquire: “Did they ask you anything else?”

“Oh yes, they asked another question,” Gao Tan said. “The leader asked me through the door, ‘what is your lord’s attitude toward General Yan?’”

“Childish.” The corner of Zhao Yelan’s mouth twitched. He picked up the teacup as if nothing had happened, sneered, and drank tea leisurely. “So what did you say?”

“Of course I said that my lord likes General Yan the most!”

“Pfft –”

“My lord, what’s wrong!” Gao Tan took the teacup in a panic. “It’s not even hot.”

Zhao Yelan stiffly took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the liquid from the corners of his mouth, looking at him coldly: “Who told you to say that?”

“Was it not my lord who wanted me to give a half-true answer?” Gao Tan looked innocent. “I was worried that it was someone seeking revenge, so I spoke about your good relationship with the General. That should make them a little apprehensive, right? The General is very good, and I like him very much.”

Zhao Yelan raised his eyebrows: “Do you know that the person who kidnapped you is……never mind. When you said that, did he believe it?”

“He didn’t believe it at first, but the man asked me what evidence I had that you like General Yan.”

Zhao Yelan gazed at him, motionless.

Gao Tan said honestly: “I lied to him and said that although you have a sharp mouth, my lord, you have a tofu heart. Every time the General goes to morning court, you can’t sleep. The General likes to wield swords and spears, and you are worried and tense. The General loves to raise chickens and fish, and you happen to like to eat the chicken and fish that he butchers with his own hands. Such a good man as the General, so handsome, isn’t it natural for you to like such a man?”

“……………..” Zhao Yelan clenched his fists slowly. “Did he believe it?”

“He believed it, he said I was right.” Gao Tan glanced at him and asked curiously, “My lord, is the mastermind truly looking for revenge?”

Zhao Yelan slapped the table and looked at him with a complicated expression. While he was thinking about how to educate this kid, he heard the servants say that the General had returned to the mansion.

Yan Mingting headed straight toward the bedroom in high spirits, walking with ease and humming a little tune. As soon as he walked to the door, he saw Zhao Yelan sitting at the table, only having time to change his clothes but not put up his hair. He smiled and blurted out: “You couldn’t sleep, so you got up and waited for me?”

“…….”

Zhao Yelan had nothing to say, so with a straight face, he ordered a maid to come over and tie up his hair.

“Gao Tan is back, did you know?” Yan Mingting asked.

Zhao Yelan nodded: “He just came back and went to his room to apply medicine. His back is injured, and it is inconvenient for him to apply medicine himself. Why don’t you go help him?”

I’m afraid I can’t help but sprinkle salt on the wound,  Zhao Yelan silently condemned.

“I’ll ask Uncle Qin to go over and help.” Yan Mingting went out for a while, and when he returned, Zhao Yelan had already tied up his hair and was bending over to pick up a sachet in front of the bronze mirror. His waist was slender, as if Yan Mingting could wrap his hands around it.

Yan Mingting stepped forward curiously, raised his hands, and measured his waist in the air.

As soon as Zhao Yelan turned around, he saw that he seemed to be trying to grasp him, and asked angrily: “What are you doing?”

Yan Mingting smiled guiltily and put his hands behind his back. Pretending to be coquettish, he walked to the table, opened the collar of his robes dashingly, and sat down confidently with his back straight: “So, I have something to tell you……I know that I am handsome and humble, as well as meticulous and thoughtful, which naturally causes people to admire me. You don’t have to be shy, let alone pretend to be strong……”

“You’re not awake yet, ba.” Zhao Yelan grabbed a sachet and threw it at his forehead.

After Yan Mingting took the sachet, the corners of his mouth turned up and he said meaningfully: “Do you know what it means to give a sachet?”

“……” Zhao Yelan’s expression froze. He walked over and snatched the sachet back.

Yan Mingting was all smiles, and couldn’t help but turn his head to look into the bronze mirror not far away.

Zhao Yelan sat opposite him, and said slowly: “What did you mean just now? Are you saying I have feelings toward you? Why do you have this illusion?”

Yan Mingting paused, then said with a guilty conscience: “I just guessed.”

“Then stop guessing, I don’t like you,” Zhao Yelan said.

Yan Mingting raised his eyebrows with an expression of, “you continue to pretend.”

Zhao Yelan: “……”

He truly couldn’t wash himself clean even if he jumped into the Yellow River.^[1] At this time, he couldn’t directly say that Gao Tan was the person he deliberately sent to be kidnapped in order to gather information.

After thinking for a moment, he asked lightly: “By the way, how did your first fiance die? Did you have a close relationship with her? Were there feelings involved?”

“Vinegar, isn’t this just vinegar!”^[2] Yan Mingting had a sudden realization and couldn’t help smiling. “You say you don’t like me and then start to drink old vinegar, ba.”

Zhao Yelan: “……”

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[1] This idiom means that he has already been labeled and is unable to remove the stigma from his name. ⮐

[2] Drinking vinegar means “being jealous.” ⮐

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Chapter Seventeen <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Nineteen

Huo Tinglan’s eyes showed a rare astonishment, and he almost laughed out loud.

What kind of strange image did Ye Ci have of him in his head……

He quickly suppressed his leaking emotions and held that silkworm chrysalis wrapped in a thin quilt in his arms.

“It’s not because of that.” He pretended to be self-deprecating, “It’s just that sometimes it feels like you may……not like me that much?”

“I, I like you so much, ah!” Ye Ci seemed to have been extremely wronged, and he straightened up in his arms. Huo Tinglan looked down and lowered his head, eagerly chasing those forlorn eyes. “Why, why do you think that?”

Even though Huo Tinglan had long been “notorious for his misdeeds,” the cool, wet tears on his cheeks were real. A top Alpha secretly crying at night was the epitome of sadness.

……It was impossible for him to have used eye drops.

Huo-shushu should still have his bottom line.

……….

Right, ba?!

Ye Ci hesitated for half a second, then resolutely put aside that dark speculation and said cautiously: “What am I doing, doing wrong? Just say it and I, I will change.” He held Huo Tinglan’s hand, sincere and flattering, as if coaxing a sad little girlfriend. “Point, point out what needs to change.”

Huo Tinglan shamelessly savored the wonderful taste of being coaxed and pampered by a young lover, and smiled helplessly: “Do I have to make it so clear?” He didn’t seem too embarrassed, saying in a low voice, “I want to get close to you, but you always hide, so I just……”

It turned out to be the case, just as he suspected.

He was also worried about whether the two people’s incongruity would lead to similar misunderstandings, so he had guessed right this time.

Flustered, Ye Ci licked his lower lip as his throat tightened. In order to clear up the misunderstanding, he forced himself to explain: “It’s not that I don’t like you, I’m just, just embarrassed……because you’re kind of……” He stammered, trying to pick a good word, but was unable to. So he could only whisper, “Too, too……”

“Too what?” Huo Tinglan laughed. He really didn’t hear clearly this time, and turned his head to put his ear towards him, repeating, “Am I too amorous?”

Ye Ci blushed and said nothing, looking at Huo Tinglan with a hint of horror as he said those words aloud.

Too amorous – there was a naivety in this complaint, a taste of innocence. Huo Tinglan was so excited that it was like a ball of fire burned from his tailbone to the back of his neck. He turned over and held down the whining and complaining little thing, and the corners of his lips could not be pressed down as he tortured him with a smile. As if his innocence had been stained by Ye Ci, and he wanted to ask for an explanation: “What’s wrong with me, what did I do, huh?”

“Not, not to mention ordinary times, even during the, the health lessons, your hands……are not honest,” Ye Ci complained, and when he got to the crucial point, his volume dropped again, “All the time.”

Huo Tinglan smiled and repeated in a straight voice: “I always touch you?”

The clumsy wording was just too cute.

Why did he have to repeat it so loudly?!

Ye Ci’s eyes rolled and he almost passed out.

“That’s called a physical examination. Physical examination, what kind of hooliganism……” Huo Tinglan chased him and kissed him while saying unreasonable things. The kisses made Ye Ci’s cheeks pink and his lips bright red. Sweat formed and both bodies were hot with excitement, the pheromones ambiguously blended.

The mood was just right, the moon was full, and the enchanting atmosphere was heavy……everything was ready, and if he pushed the boat along the way, he could mark him permanently, but Huo Tinglan resisted the impulse – – a misunderstanding was a misunderstanding. He stroked his hair and straightened to prop himself on top of Ye Ci with a smile. “Just kidding, it wasn’t because of that……”

“……Huh?” Ye Ci’s blurred eyes slowly focused. When he understood what Huo Tinglan meant, he knew that he was probably being self-indulgent just now and had also taken the initiative to mention the permanent mark. His expression gradually changed until it looked like he had nothing left to live for. “What was it……you said it, it was an emotional matter……”

That was all he could think of.

Huo Tinglan pondered for a moment, then said softly: “I had a dream.”

“About going back to the past and living it again.” If Huo Tinglan told Ye Ci about this kind of thing seriously, Ye Ci might not believe it.

Even if he was on the verge of credit bankruptcy with Ye Ci, Ye Ci would trust him no matter what.

However……

Huo Tinglan privately didn’t want Ye Ci to know what a terrible and hopeless situation he was in during his previous life. How he had been trampled and bullied, and died young.

Besides, that gloomy past could no longer even be called “the past.” That entire space-time had ceased to exist, so why mention it?

It would just add unhappiness.

So he substituted it for a dream.

“A nightmare?” Those few tears became the gold medal for avoiding death. Ye Ci didn’t care to pursue the matter of being teased a moment ago, and shakily stroked Huo Tinglan’s head.

The hair that brushed against his palm was thick and smooth. Without the setting spray, the elitist feeling of being in control of the situation was a bit less, and he looked real and fragile.

“Tell me, once the nightmare is said, it will be broken and it won’t come true.”

Ye Ci got up and turned on the night light. The warm light was like a thin layer of floating mist, tempting people to be honest.

“I dreamed of you……” He began.

Regarding the accident, he tried to describe it concisely, as he was afraid that his voice would reveal something abnormal.

But Ye Ci could still feel the deep, intense pain hidden in the forbearing narrative. Not like a frightening dream moments ago, but like years of mourning were seeping through, overflowing at the slightest touch.

He was at a loss, becoming panicked. He didn’t know how to coax people in the first place, but now he could only stroke Huo Tinglan’s back and repeat awkwardly, “But aren’t I okay? Huo-shushu, I’m okay.”

“Sorry, the dream was too real.” Huo Tinglan cleared his hoarse voice and smiled. “Maybe it’s because I care so much about you……that I can’t accept this possibility.”

Ye Ci was so anxious that his palms were sweaty. He squeezed Huo Tinglan’s hand with all his strength, turned over his palm, and slotted his five fingers between the other man’s. Holding it tightly again, he wished to exchange all the strength he had nowhere to use for words of comfort – – he had guessed right, Huo-shushu was indeed an insecure person.

“There……there was no such possibility to begin with.” He desperately manipulated his tongue, “I am very careful to, to protect myself. I’ve been racing all, all my life……I won’t do it, don’t worry. Anyway, it’s just a hobby……actually, it can’t even count as a hobby, I just do it when, when I’m in a bad mood, and after a few laps, I feel comfortable……”

That depression needed a place to go.

But he didn’t need it now.

“I will never do anything that, that you think is dangerous.” Ye Ci fought with himself for a while, then suddenly turned over and stood on the ground. “I’m not, not going to that shooting club either……” He thought that this was what Huo Tinglan was worrying about. He didn’t want to make his lover worry about an insignificant hobby, so he wanted to fetch his membership card and shred it in front of him.

“Come back.” Huo Tinglan was amused, and he grabbed that strong, thin waist and dragged him back. Cuddling at the head of the bed, he closed his eyes and sincerely said, “It’s okay to play with guns, as long as I’m with you. Racing cars……really scares me.”

He was unwilling to restrict Ye Ci’s freedom in the name of so-called love, but in this matter alone, he would rather be an unreasonable person.

“I understand, I really do.” Ye Ci solemnly nodded. “You don’t have to think that, that this is……restricting my freedom. I’m an……” He swallowed the ‘Alpha’ that slipped to the tip of his tongue, and awkwardly changed the word, “……a man, married, and should let you have a sense of security.”

This Alpha burden couldn’t be set aside.

Huo Tinglan smiled, enjoying the moment of being forcibly enveloped by Ye Ci’s boyfriend power. So instead of destroying Ye Ci’s Alpha illusion, he just said softly, “Okay.”

Ye Ci scrutinized his expression, still uneasy, and organized his words for a while. Using the way the psychiatrist taught him to speak, he slowed down his speaking speed, lowered his tone, and said word by word: “Huo-shushu, don’t you think that my fate with you……is particularly deep? With a physique like yours, the degree of matching with other people’s genes is so low, but it is higher than mine. And I also, by chance, secondary differentiated into an Omega, as if just to meet you.”

“You and I are not from the same world, not to mention……we got married, and even if there was an intersection, it would have been difficult. But not only do we match, but, but there are so many good and bad……combinations of factors, like the Butterfly Effect just pinched us together.” He had never said such lovey-dovey words to anyone, and his cheeks were pink with embarrassment, but those clear black and white eyes were full of resolve. “The fate between me and you must be very deep. Even if we are separated, it cannot be taken apart. If, if I didn’t meet you, I can’t even imagine what my, my future would be like……Luckily, I met you early and was protected by you early on. I feel that these are all things that were arranged by the heavens.”

“I was born for, for you, to cure your illness in this life,” he concluded. “You, too, were born for me, to protect me. God can’t bear to let us separate……don’t be afraid, don’t worry anymore.”

Huo Tinglan stared at his thin, moving lips without taking his eyes off them, his ears roaring and his blood rushing.

– – Maybe you will meet again in your next life……

– – Fate so deep that it cannot be broken apart……

– – Meet him earlier, protect him earlier……

– – It’s all arranged by the heavens……

Lin Yao’s gentle words in the dream lingered in his ears and gradually merged with the syllables that dropped from Ye Ci’s mouth. There was a high degree of overlap, and some sentences were even exactly the same.

Was it a coincidence?

Or were they really destined in this life?

His feeling at that moment was impossible to put into words. He abruptly hugged Ye Ci, who was trying to coax him with his face up, his voice trembling slightly.

“I know, baby……”

The melancholy and regret in the depths of his heart were like the ice of a lake frozen for a long time, then suddenly cracking in the spring.

Spring water gurgled and gradually became turbulent, melting and soothing the black and blue frostbite in his heart, and his chest was filled with a warm and wonderful emotion. He hugged Ye Ci tightly. A small piece of frozen soil was about to come back to life, and spring grass burst densely out of the ground, making his heart itch unbearably. In order to relieve the piercing itch, he had no choice but to hold Ye Ci’s face and kiss him messily, passionately, and sincerely, holding him tightly and recklessly.

He was going to mark him forever, tonight, right now, right now.

“Baby……” A bit later, he pressed against Ye Ci, who was about to turn into a puddle of water, and inspected the learning results of recent days. “Do you remember the process of permanent marking?”

Ye Ci nodded lightly.

“Even if you know, I still need to remind you again.” Huo Tinglan touched his forehead, rubbed the tip of his nose affectionately, then immediately got up. While talking, he took out a small bottle of capsules from the small drawer of the bedside table, swallowing two capsules with water. It was a drug that reduced the activity of a certain reproductive cell to achieve a contraceptive effect, and it could only be taken by an Alpha – – this drug was the only method of contraception he could use when giving a permanent mark……He couldn’t let Ye Ci delay his studies because of his kind of accident, but he didn’t want Ye Ci to take medicine either, so he had to take it himself. This bottle of medicine had been placed in this small drawer for several months.

“Permanent marking is not a 100% pleasant process for the Omega……” After swallowing the capsules, he continued to give a science lesson.

At first, it was purely pleasurable.

But that was just a trick of the vile laws of nature.

After the real marking phase started, the Omega’s deep cavity needed to be opened for the first time. This process was often accompanied by pain and a strong sense of being violated and conquered at the psychological level. This was the inevitable consequence of the deep fusion of Alpha pheromones, and had nothing to do with whether the Alpha’s performance was gentle and considerate.

Therefore, for some Omegas whose temperaments were comparatively proud, the mental discomfort could even outweigh the physical pain.

“……Especially for an Omega like you whose initial differentiation result was an Alpha, you may suddenly feel resistance at a certain moment.” The arrow was on the string, but Huo Tinglan calmed down and gave Ye Ci a warning, “At that time, I may completely lose my mind. Even if you cry and beg me, hit me, it will be difficult for me to stop the marking……and a secure mark needs to be repeated many times, lasting for a few days on and off. Are you afraid?”

Ye Ci turned his head in embarrassment, opened a pair of almond eyes filled with tears from being kissed, and fibbed: “I’m not, not afraid. Besides, I’m not, not the kind of person who cries often……”

With this matter being imminent, he was still clinging to his Alpha baggage.

It was really cute.

Huo Tinglan’s lips twitched, and he leaned over to silence the lingering sound of his words.

… …

… …

… …

When it was all over, it was four days later.

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Chapter Forty << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Two

Gao Tan concealed it very well. Most people would likely not realize that this loyal but somewhat silly servant was actually a martial arts master.

Perhaps out of intuition, Yan Mingting just felt that this kid was a little unusual.

First of all, Zhao Yelan was too relaxed knowing that someone might come to seek revenge at any time, usually only taking a servant with him when he went out. However, when he went out twice yesterday, Gao Tan didn’t accompany him due to having something to do.

Secondly, Zhao Yelan had picky tastes, and every day he would ask Gao Tan to go make purchases himself when these things could obviously be handed over to other servants. But as long as Gao Tan went, he himself would stay in the mansion during that time and never go out. As for the abnormality of going out to shop, Yan Mingting had not figured it out yet. He had only taken cherries from the basket twice, and they were not unusual.

Furthermore, the sound of Gao Tan’s footsteps were sometimes light and sometimes heavy, making them difficult to distinguish. If one did not observe carefully, it was difficult to detect his martial arts. And he didn’t have thick calluses like soldiers, so Yan Mingting concluded that he was a qinggong^[1] expert and was able to escape yesterday by virtue of these skills.

If these were all coincidences, there was another piece of evidence to prove Yan Mingting’s guess correct.

The smell.

Because he attended Zhao Yelan personally, he usually had to burn incense, and there was a trace of the fragrance on his body.

When fighting yesterday, he could faintly smell a scent. After returning home, he casually approached and smelled the same scent on Gao Tan.

Since it was a trap designed by Zhao Yelan, he might as well see what he wanted to do. It wasn’t until Zhao Yelan reminded him to inform the Emperor about this last night that he figured out the key points.

“Since he’s using us, why should we protect him?” He Cuizhang asked.

“Because getting rid of the spies does no harm to us,” Yan Mingting said.

If he wanted to investigate the cause of his father’s death in depth, the fewer people who knew about it, the better. What’s more, this group of spies were not necessarily just to protect Zhao Yelan, otherwise Zhao Yelan would not want to get rid of them. Then it must be that this group of people would also monitor the movement in the General’s Mansion, which was of no benefit to him. He would simply use his plan to get rid of this group by pretending to be confused, killing as many as they came, and returning the General’s Mansion to a clean place.

“So troublesome.” He Cuizhang rubbed his head. “This is much more complicated than our war!”

“That’s right, these calculations and conspiracies are not as straightforward as plots on the battlefield,” Zhong Yuehong echoed.

Yan Mingting sighed. He didn’t want to get involved if he didn’t have to, but as long as the border was peaceful and his army was in command, he would be targeted in Beijing.

Zhao Yelan was demoted first. Perhaps it would be his turn soon.

But he still needed to investigate the cause of his father’s death, so he couldn’t hand over the power easily. The case had been going on for many years, and……He glanced at the lieutenants who were each as overwhelmed as the other, and got a headache.

This group of people followed him bravely and invincibly on the battlefield, but they were only suitable for obeying orders, not using their brains.

He himself couldn’t be regarded as Zhuge^[2] in terms of conspiracies and tricks. At most, he discovered some clues because he was close to Zhao Yelan frequently.

It seemed that if he wanted to find the truth as soon as possible, he would have to find a “military advisor.”

After Yan Mingting explained these things to them, he rode back to the house. It was already past time for breakfast, but when the servants saw him return, they rushed to prepare the dishes.

“Where is Zhao Yelan? Has he eaten yet?” Yan Mingting asked.

Housekeeper Qin replied: “He hasn’t woken up yet. I went to knock on the door half an hour ago, but Xiao Gao stood guard by the door and said that he was very tired and would not have breakfast.”

“It isn’t good to skip breakfast.” Yan Mingting finished eating first, and then went to the bedroom with porridge and steamed buns.

Gao Tan had disappeared at this time, most likely to go shopping.

He pushed open the door and called: “Get up.”

The person on the bed didn’t move.

He put the food on the table and then walked to the bed, looking at the person sleeping curled up under the blanket. Only half of his face was exposed, and a few strands of hair covered his cheeks. Yan Mingting stretched out his hand and touched the delicate skin, which was as smooth as a freshly peeled egg. He couldn’t help but pinch it, and then pinch it again: “My Zhao-daren, it’s time for you to get up.”

Zhao Yelan slapped his hand away half asleep and turned over.

“Slacker, you big slacker, ah.” Yan Mingting patted him through the blanket.

“You’re pressing my hair!” Zhao abruptly opened his eyes and roared.

“Oh, sorry.” Yan Mingting quickly withdrew his hand, watched him sit up angrily, and asked humbly and flatteringly, “What do you want to eat today?”

Zhao Yelan gave him a look, put his hair all on the other side, and got out of bed without saying a word, walking to the door and ordering people to fetch hot water for washing.

“I heard from Uncle Qin that after I went to court, you got up?” Yan Mingting walked to the washbasin and watched him wipe his face with a hot towel. He didn’t know whether it was from anger or from rubbing his face with a towel, but there was a trace of a blush on his face. The egg had turned into a red egg. He looked at it and laughed inwardly.

“Am I not allowed?” Zhao Yelan threw the towel into the basin, then went to change clothes and tie his hair up, but took some time to pick out the sachet.

“Of course it’s fine, but I thought……you were reluctant to part with me and wanted to send me to morning court.” Yan Mingting walked to his side with a smile, looking at the various sachets. They were quite fresh. He picked one up to smell it, and felt a little refreshed. “You still have so many good-smelling sachets, ah.”

“Don’t touch.” Zhao Yelan snatched the sachet back from his hand in displeasure. After picking and choosing, he took a blue patterned cloth bag and put it in front of him. Yan Mingting immediately sneezed.

Zhao Yelan immediately selected it, pinning it on his waist with a swagger.

“……”

Yan Mingting backed away, standing at the door, and then raised his voice to ask: “What’s in it?”

“Sweetgrass.” Zhao Yelan sat down at the table calmly and began to eat.

“Tsk, I say, which wife is like you?” Yan Mingting leaned against the door, pointing out, “That Kan Chuan, who is so upright and bold to remonstrate his superior, was officially appointed by the Emperor as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials today. Not only is he a proud official, but his love life is even the envy of others. I heard people say that he and his wife are loving and sweet, and every day when he goes to court, his wife will escort him to the door and give him a few words of advice.”

Zhao Yelan put down the bowl, smiled slightly, and walked towards him: “You think you want something like that?”

Yan Mingting looked at the sachet dangling at his waist and stepped back again and again, retreating into the courtyard, saying: “Going, going, can’t I leave?”

When Gao Tan came back, he happened to see Yan Mingting fleeing in a hurry. He walked up to Zhao Yelan curiously and was taken aback for a moment: “My lord, were you smiling just now?”

Zhao Yelan paused: “No.”

“But……”

“Come inside and talk.” Zhao Yelan returned to the room and took his basket, and Gao Tan obediently guarded the door.

Today’s basket contained some flower petals which were suitable for making sachets or for bathing. He dug inside and took out a piece of paper that had been placed in the basket. There was no writing on it.

He observed it for a moment and then placed the paper into the water, and writing gradually appeared.

– – Everything is going according to plan, don’t worry, take care of your (crossed out) and take care of your body with peace of mind.

Zhao Yelan squeezed the paper into a tight ball and threw it into the charcoal basin, rubbing the space between his eyebrows: “Really becoming more and more undisciplined.”

Gao Tan looked at him uncertainly, thinking he was talking about him, and asked aggrievedly: “My lord, what did I do wrong?”

“It’s nothing to do with you.” Zhao Yelan waved his hand, thought of something, and called to him again, whispering a few words.

Gao Tan looked at him in astonishment and didn’t ask for a reason. In any case, even if he asked, he wouldn’t be able to figure it out, so he just obeyed.

In the morning, people from the tailor shop came to deliver the clothes. They made three new sets, all of which were sewn with the silk received on the wedding day.

When Zhao Yelan arrived at the hall, it happened that the doctor had come to change Yan Mingting’s bandages, so the two sat on one side, each doing their own thing.

The shopkeeper unfolded the clothes and explained in depth the details of the stitches and the uniqueness of the patterns. 

Zhao Yelan kept silent. When he finally finished his spiel, Gao Tan accepted it and gave some rewards, and the shopkeeper led his people away with a smile.

“You are so generous?” Yan Mingting was shocked by his extravagant spending. He had casually given away what would pay a servant for a year.

“Much silver was spent, and the service was attentive and satisfactory. Otherwise, what would I do with so much money? Should I leave it for descendants or spend it on you?” Zhao Yelang looked sideways at him.

Yan Mingting was dumbfounded, and suggested after a while: “Then should we go to adopt a descendent?”

Zhao Yelan almost spit out the tea in his mouth. Setting the teacup down, he casually grabbed one of the snacks on the table and threw it at his face: “What nonsense are you talking about!”

“I’m just talking.” Yan Mingting laughed and was held down by the doctor’s arm.

“General, don’t move.”

Zhao Yelan turned his head and saw Gao Tan holding a plate. There was still some money left from the reward that was given just now, so he summoned all the servants, whether they were from the General’s Mansion or Zhao Mansion. They all stood neatly in the courtyard.

Zhao Yelan rewarded everyone with a silver ingot.

The people in Zhao Mansion were accustomed to this, but the people in the General’s Mansion seemed to have gotten a windfall from heaven, holding it in their hands as if afraid it was a dream. Looking at the expression in Zhao Yelan’s eyes again, he instantly changed from a hot-tempered master into a parent reborn!

Yan Mingting looked at his group of servants who had quickly defected, sighing helplessly. His hand hurt slightly all of a sudden, and he looked at the doctor.

Seeing this scene, the doctor who was bandaging him was greedy, and accidentally used too much strength. He quickly let go to apologize.

Zhao Yelan smiled at Yan Mingting, proud of himself, and tossed a silver ingot in front of the doctor: “Bandage him well and this one is yours.”

The doctor’s eyes lit up.

“……” Yan Mingting clearly felt that he was more meticulous and patient.

Zhao Yelan was about to go back to his room, and when he passed by him, he said quietly: “Compared to power and force, money earns people’s loyalty.”

Yan Mingting could not refute.

At noon, Yan Mingting looked at a table of rich and delicious food. The servants were scrambling to add food for Zhao Yelan, and he was almost squeezed under the table. He couldn’t help feeling that the power of money was indeed infinite.

According to Zhao Yelan’s habits, he would take a nap in the afternoon, and after dinner, he would lie in bed and read a book slowly. 

“You are rather leisurely.” Yan Mingting walked in with a plate of cherries. “Aren’t you afraid that Kan Chuan will trouble you?’

“I’ve been dismissed, so why would he trouble me?” Zhao Yelan stretched out his hand, but the other party set the plate directly on the table. His eyes narrowed, and he was about to get angry.

“You really need to get rid of your laziness. Come here to eat, so you don’t choke lying down.” Yan Mingting sat at the table, picked up two cherries to tempt him, and said, “He impeached Chen Haoyi in court today for colluding with you.”

“And then?”

“Chen Haoyi was also demoted.”

“Oh.”

“You’re not surprised at all.”

“Now that I have fallen, Kan Chuan and his ilk will definitely take the opportunity to pick out everyone associated with me.” Zhao Yelan stared at the plate, then got up angrily and sat opposite him, grabbing the plate in front of him and not allowing him to eat.

“Stingy.” Yan Mingting quickly grabbed a handful from the plate, put it all in his mouth in one go, and gave him a smug smile.

Zhao Yelan: “……” He had never seen such a childish person! Boor!

There was too much stuffed in his mouth, and after chewing a few times, it started to taste sour. Yan Mingting’s face wrinkled up, and he finished eating with a bitter expression.

The corner of Zhao Yelan’s mouth twitched: “You deserve it.”

Yan Mingting smiled awkwardly and ate another one in embarrassment. Forcibly changing the subject, he asked vaguely, “Did you take a nap?”

“You’re really five years old.” Zhao Yelan gave him a sidelong glance.

“I didn’t nap, and since you didn’t nap, why don’t we go for a walk?”

“How is that better? Who knows if anyone will be following me.” Zhao Yelan ate the cherries calmly.

“Exactly. How about we lure the snake out of the hole and wipe out this group of people all at once?”

“Are you sure you can take them all?” Zhao Yelan had exactly this intention. But looking at his arm, he said coolly, “I don’t want to fly into the sky again.”

“No problem, this time you just stay on the ground and I guarantee not a hair on your head will be harmed,” Yan Mingting solemnly promised.

Zhao Yelan was dubious. Seeing the hot sun outside, he wanted to go to bed for a while, but just as he was about to refuse, his wrist was suddenly grabbed and he was pulled away effortlessly.

“Xiao Gao, get the sedan chair ready, your lord is going out,” Yan Mingting said loudly.

“ ? ”

Zhao Yelan was taken to the sedan chair without any preparation, and after a while, he lifted the curtain to see Gao Tan. He turned to open the curtain on the other side, and saw Yan Mingting walking outside, saying gloomily: “If you dare to injure me even a little, I will kill all the chickens in the coop, fill in your fish pond, and slaughter your mansion……”

“Don’t worry, you won’t get hurt. This time we’re not getting attacked, but taking the initiative,” Yan Mingting said in a low voice. Seeing that his expression was very ugly, he reached out a hand to dig in his pocket, then took a bag of things out and tossed it inside. “If you hear any movement later, don’t poke your head out to look, understand?”

Zhao Yelan sat back and opened the bag. It contained some candied fruit. He scoffed coldly and picked up a piece, eating it in silence.

After about a stick of incense’s time, there was the sudden sound of fighting outside, and the sedan chair abruptly fell to the ground. He knocked into the sedan chair twice before he held onto the table. Unconsciously grasping the bag of candied fruit in his hand, he listened carefully to the clashing of swords outside.

After the sounds gradually stopped, he opened a corner to look out, then stepped out of the sedan chair and glanced around.

Surrounded by a bamboo forest, more than a dozen men in black were lying messily on the ground. Yan Mingting was crouching beside one of the corpses to check his breath.

“Where is Gao Tan?” Zhao Yelan asked suddenly.

Yan Mingting raised his head and looked left and right, slightly surprised: “Why didn’t you tell me that he could actually do martial arts? He just went to chase the fleeing people, nothing will happen, right?” 

Zhao Yelan’s expression tightened: “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t let me be hurt at all?”

“It’s true……you weren’t hurt, ah, aren’t you standing there securely? A man’s promise hasn’t been broken,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan was furious, and threw the bag in his hand: “Hurry up and save him!”

“Okay!” Just as Yan Mingting ran away, he returned suddenly and stuffed a flare into his hand. “Pull this out if something happens, someone will come to rescue you.”

T/N: Happy New Year!!!

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[1] Qinggong, or “light work” is basically being able to leap high, run fast, and appear to ignore gravity. You see this in a lot of wuxia novels and movies. ⮐

[2] Zhuge was a genius military strategist in “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ ⮐

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Chapter Sixteen <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighteen

“My lord, it is physical weakness coupled with excessive fright that led to him fainting. I have given him acupuncture and prescribed another dose of medicine for him to take so that he can rest well,” said the doctor.

Yan Mingting nodded and ordered Housekeeper Qin to follow him and retrieve the medicine. After sending the doctor away, he faced Gao Tan’s resentful eyes and smiled awkwardly: “You may not know that, with how critical the situation was at the time, he might have been assassinated by the enemy first if I didn’t take him with me.”

Gao Tan’s expression was still aggrieved.

“Really, you have to trust me, I want to protect your master.” Yan Mingting moved towards the bed while talking and looked down at the weak person lying on the bed, his eyes closed tightly and his face pale. Gritting his teeth, he turned and walked out. “I’m going to kill that old hen to make soup for him!”

The sound of footsteps got farther and farther away. Zhao Yelan’s eyelashes trembled twice and he slowly opened his eyes, looking around. After confirming that he was in the house and not in the underworld, he propped himself up on the bed and prepared to sit up.

“My lord, you’re awake.” Gao Tan quickly stepped forward to help him up and handed him a cup of hot water.

Zhao Yelan took two sips and asked softly, “How did I get back?”

“The General……” Gao Tan recalled the scene at that time, and immediately changed his words. “I brought you back.”

Zhao Yelan didn’t want to imagine that scene at all, and asked again, “Where are those men in black?”

“Caught by the General and several lieutenants who rushed over later, but as soon as they were caught, they committed suicide immediately without leaving any identifying information.,” Gao Tan said.

“En.”

Since the Gold Collar Guards were dead soldiers, they were ready to die at any time. No matter the reason for being caught, they must kill themselves immediately and not let others find out any information.

Zhao Yelan nodded and then looked toward the door: “Where is Yan Mingting?”

“The General is going to butcher a chicken to make soup for you.”

Zhao Yelan coughed and pushed him hastily: “Quick, go and stop him.”

“What’s wrong?” Gao Tan asked nervously.

“I want white chicken noodles with shark’s fin, barbecued suckling pig, hibiscus jelly in clear soup and drunken prawns, not chicken soup.”

Zhao Yelan recited the names of several dishes in one breath. Since he had come to the General’s Mansion, he was getting tired of the chicken and fish from the courtyard every day.

Wasn’t living in this world just for the sake of the desires of the tongue? What’s more, his household was wealthy and powerful, so he couldn’t bear this grievance.

Gao Tan immediately ran to find Yan Mingting. The man had already slaughtered a chicken, and when he heard that Zhao Yelan was going to change the menu, he couldn’t care less about washing up, so he came to the bedroom and asked: “Do you not understand the concept of going easy on the stomach when you’re ill?”

Zhao Yelan saw the blood on his hands and sleeves and he still smelled like chicken. He instinctively covered half of his face with the blanket and glared: “You stand over there! Don’t come near me!”

Yan Mingting glanced down and put his hands behind his back, but seeing his half-covered appearance, he felt it was extra fresh and cute, so he couldn’t help approaching to say: “It’s going to be dark soon, where can I find so many fresh ingredients for you? How about eating lightly for these two days and having a big meal another day?”

“I’ll say it again, I’m going to eat these today!” After Zhao Yelan spoke sharply, he started coughing again.

“Okay, okay, okay, I’ll go and tell the kitchen to prepare them.” Yan Mingting was defeated and tried to reach out to pat him on the back, but Zhao Yelan abruptly glanced at his bloody hand. He took it back awkwardly, told Gao Tan to take care of him, and then went to the kitchen.

Zhao Yelan slept in the room for a while before he heard Gao Tan calling him to get up for dinner.

It was already dark outside, so he put on a cloak and walked slowly to the hall. When he arrived at the door, he saw several people sitting inside.

– A group of military officials.

“Zhao-daren, sorry to bother you,” He Cuizhang said loudly, smiling.

“The General asked us to discuss some matters, saying that you ordered the kitchen to cook some good dishes and wanted us to stay and eat together. Thank you, my lord,” Zhong Yuehong explained.

The others also nodded in agreement, looking at him with a hint of gratitude in their eyes.

Zhao Yelan: “……”

He looked at Yan Mingting, who was pretending to be obedient, and his eyes gradually turned cold.

“Come, take your seat quickly.” Yan Mingting didn’t seem to notice his anger. He got up and walked in front of him with a smile, helped him untie the cloak, and led him to his seat. “Come on, it’s all your favorite food, eat it while it’s hot.”

The table was full of delicacies from the mountains and the seas, and Zhao Yelan’s temper eased a little. He tasted every dish and they were beautiful and delicious. Raising his head in satisfaction, he found that the other people were staring at him. He said: “Are you all just going to watch? Raise your chopsticks.”

“Thank you, my lord!”

After receiving the order, the group of people immediately picked up their chopsticks with gleaming eyes and began to attack the table.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Yelan regretted it so much that he wished he could go back and slap himself twice. What was the point of wasting those words? If he let this group of boorish people move their chopsticks, would he still have a share?

Everyone put down their utensils in turn. He Cuizhang patted his stomach and said with emotion: “The food in the capital is better than in the military camp. I’ve never eaten so comfortably in my life as I have in the past few days.”

Zhong Yuehong: “Thank you, General and Zhao-daren, for your hospitality.”

“It’s no bother, the two of us can’t finish eating so many dishes anyway.” Yan Mingting waved his hands magnanimously, then looked at Zhao Yelan with a deep expression. “Don’t you think so?”

Zhao Yelan put down his chopsticks and left the hall without looking back.

“What’s wrong with Zhao-daren?” He Cuizhang asked in confusion.

“It’s fine, he was just frightened today, so he’s not in a good mood,” Yan Mingting said.

The others expressed their understanding. Today’s situation was very dangerous. If they hadn’t arrived in time, it would have been very difficult for the General to escape from a group of masters while dragging Zhao Yelan.

“General, there is one thing I don’t understand……are you saving him frequently because you have cleared him of suspicion?” He Cuizhang asked in a low voice.

Yan Mingting shook his head.

“Then why do you……”

“He’s so good-looking.”

“……”

“He shouldn’t be my enemy, otherwise what could I do?” Yan Mingting touched his chin and pondered.

“……” He Cuizhang did not expect that General Yan, who had heroic features and a righteous body, was also a person who would be addicted to beauty!

Yan Mingting saw his shocked mouth open wide enough to swallow two eggs, and laughed out loud: “Just kidding.”

He Cuizhang heaved a sigh of relief.

“I have my own arrangements……there is a man in black who escaped……” Yan Mingting thought of something, smiled suddenly, and started to chase people off. “All right, all right, leave as soon as you finish eating. Don’t hang around drinking in my house, I don’t have time to entertain you.”

“Obviously you were the one who kept us here,” He Cuizhang muttered.

After sending all of his subordinates away, Yan Mingting went to the kitchen, brought out the chicken soup and fish porridge that had been stewed for a long time, and walked to the bedroom. Seeing Zhao Yelan writing at his desk, he smiled and asked: “What are you doing?”

Zhao Yelan didn’t respond, just continuing to write on the paper.

“You weren’t full just now, come and have some porridge. It was specially prepared for you.” Yan Mingting casually walked to his side, looking down at the words on the paper. It turned out to be a divorce agreement.

He read it with relish. The letter was voluminous and flowing, with remarkable literary talent. Every word was an indictment of his unjust treatment.

Yan Mingting cried out in grievance: “You have no conscience, why didn’t you mention that I was ready to die for love when I saved you?”

The brush stroked hard on the paper, and a stain appeared. Zhao Yelan took a deep breath and looked sideways at him, as if beholding a fool: “Why were you going to die?”

“For love, ah. We’re husband and wife, what else if not for love?” Yan Mingting teased. Every time he mentioned such mushy words, it would definitely make Zhao Yelan angry, and then his whole body would be endlessly vibrant and full of life. He would try every means to bully him, never tiring of teasing Zhao Yelan, as if it was a very fascinating thing.

Sure enough, Zhao Yelan’s face was indignant. His expression was no longer as cold as a casket, and he raised his hand to draw on his face. “Who is the one who said we would be good brothers in the next life?”

“I regret it, let’s be husband and wife in the next life, ba.” Yan Mingting smiled heartily, letting him do whatever he wanted on his face.

“Who will continue to be husband and wife with you!” Zhao Yelan put the brush on the table with a snap, and gave him a hard look. “Don’t be so pleased with yourself, ugly person.”

Just as Yan Mingting was going to refute, he thought of something and walked up to the bronze mirror. A big turtle was drawn on his face, and when his mouth opened, it looked like the turtle was opening its mouth.

He turned his head and happened to catch the corners of Zhao Yelan’s mouth slightly curved. In an instant, he returned to his expressionless appearance, as if what he had seen just now had been an illusion. Yan Mingting pointed at the other party and said, “You just smiled.”

“I did not,” Zhao Yelan denied cooly.

“You did.”

“Did not.”

The two faced each other in silence for a moment. Yan Mingting took the lead and smiled: “Okay, you didn’t, can you come over to have porridge now?”

Although he was angry, he couldn’t joke around with his body. Zhao Yelan carefully folded the letter and handed it to him, then sat down at the table and sipped the porridge.

Yan Mingting casually put the divorce agreement in a drawer, sat down beside him, and stared at him.

Zhao Yelan frowned and shot him a sidelong glance, then picked up the bowl, turned around, and sat with his back facing him.

“How is it? Does it taste good?” Yan Mingting put one arm on the table and propped up his face with his hand, looking at his back with a smile. “Be careful with your sleeves.”

He reached out to lift the other’s sleeve, so as not to let it brush the chicken soup. Who knew that Zhao Yelan would subconsciously push him away, causing his arm to bump against the table. He let out a muffled groan.

Zhao Yelan turned his head and gave him a suspicious look.

Yan Mingting retracted his arm silently.

Seeing this, Zhao Yelan put down the bowl and turned around. He pulled up his arm and opened the sleeve to see that a small area of his forearm was wrapped in white gauze. A little blood oozed out, staining a small part of the gauze red.

“How did it happen?” Zhao Yelan looked up at him. “The men in black?”

Yan Mingting nodded in embarrassment and said offhand: “I was just careless for a moment. Normally, even if a hundred or a thousand people came against me, they would not be able to land a strike.”

Normally……What was the difference between today and the usual?

He’d had an extra burden.

Perhaps it was an injury he got by keeping that burden by his side. Perhaps it was from a sword that was blocked for that burden.

Zhao Yelan was silent for a moment, then rolled his sleeves down, walked to the door, and ordered Xiao Gao to call the doctor in to check the wound again.

Fortunately, there was no serious problem. Ater reapplying the medicine and rebandaging it, the doctor gave a few more instructions before leaving.

Soon there were only two people left in the room. The night was deep. Zhao Yelan lay down under the blanket and glanced at the person lying flat on the floor. Maybe it was because of his tough constitution that he didn’t need bedding and could sleep all night with a blanket on the ground.

“Aren’t you afraid of the cold?” Zhao Yelan asked curiously.

“What cold?” Yan Mingting said casually, covering up the years he had experienced.

“You’re not marching and fighting outside now, why don’t you treat yourself kindly?”

“I fear that a life of luxury will eliminate my vigilance.” Yan Mingting yawned. “As you can see, you can encounter danger at any time in the capital, so it is obvious that there is no place that is completely safe.”

Zhao Yelan sighed. He got up, picked up a stack of books and placed them in the middle of the bed, and took out a blanket from the cabinet: “Until your injury recovers, sleep here temporarily.”

As soon as the words were spoken, a figure flashed before his eyes to lay on the bed with staggering speed.

“……” Zhao Yelan gave him a blank look. Taking off his shoes, he crossed over his feet and crawled inside. “Don’t you fear a life of luxury now?”

“Hey, how can this be called a life of luxury? This is sending charcoal on a snowy day,^[1] ah.”

Yan Mingting smiled as he watched his jet-black hair hang down, all the way from the end of the bed to the pillow.

After putting out the lights, Zhao Yelan abruptly said: “Tomorrow morning, you remember to tell the Emperor about this.”

“About what?”

“The surprise attack by the men in black, and you single-handedly fighting against many.”

“Is this asking me to show off my heroic deeds in public?” Yan Mingting asked with a smile.

Zhao Yelan scoffed coldly and stopped speaking.

The next day, as soon as he heard the sound of someone rolling over, he rubbed his eyes and sat up. Right after calling Gao Tan, he realized that he didn’t have to go to court anymore.

He watched Yan Mingting put on his clothes and tie his hair in a few brief movements before donning his sword in high spirits. He exhorted: “Don’t forget what you have to tell the Emperor.”

“Got it.” Yan Mingting turned around and saw him sitting on the bed with one hand propped outside of the blanket, his eyes sleepy, like a wife watching her husband go out and nagging non-stop. He smiled. “If you can’t sleep, go to the training grounds and practice with Yuehong and the others. It will be good for your health.”

“Who said I can’t sleep.” Zhao Yelan fell on the bed as soon as he heard the words “training grounds,” rolled up in the blanket and turned over, leaving a rear view of the person who was determined not to exercise.

Yan Mingting smiled silently. Before leaving, he heard him cough twice, perhaps due to getting up too hastily and letting cold air in.

He returned to the bed and tucked in the blanket, went to the kitchen alone to prepare a hot water bottle, put it at his feet, and then went out into the ink-dark night.

There was silence all around. Zhao Yelan slowly opened his eyes. He was absent-minded for a moment before getting up, and when he caught sight of the hot water bottle from the corner of his eye, he was stunned for a moment and then carried it to the study.

The study room had not been used for a long time, and some of the stored rice paper was starting to turn yellow, but he had ordered for them to be kept. At this time, he chose one of them and began to draw on the paper.

A short while later, he glanced at the sky. It was almost time to go down, so he called Gao Tan: “Give this to Eunuch Gao. Be sure to do it quickly.”

In the court hall, after the politics were over, the Emperor took the initiative to ask Yan Mingting: “General Yan, I heard that you handed over many unclaimed corpses to the government offices yesterday. What happened?”

“Answering Your Majesty, this servant went out with Zhao Yelan yesterday when we encountered assassins. This servant took them down, but the group of people unexpectedly committed suicide as soon as they were captured,” Yan Mingting replied.

“Do you know who it was?”

“This servant doesn’t know. This servant knows very little about the affairs of the capital, so he can only hand everything over to the government for investigation. If the government requires assistance, you can ask this servant to transfer people over at any time, and this servant will also send more people to ensure Zhao Yelan’s safety. Please rest assured, Your Majesty,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Xuan’s lips moved, but he had let him finish talking, so he could only let it go. Reviewing memorials after court, he suddenly became emotional and threw out the memorial in front of him.

The Gold Collar Guard lost more than thirty people in one day, and it was even impossible to know the truth. They sent people to investigate, and the result was that the men in black attacked Zhao Yelan secretly, and Yan Mingting protected him. Countless people could testify to this.

If this was the case, he couldn’t blame Yan Mingting. Because Yan Mingting didn’t know of the existence of the Gold Collar Guard, it was understandable that he would hurry to protect Zhao Yelan.

But if someone designed it on purpose, it was only Zhao Yelan who knew the Gold Collar Guard well. But Zhao Yelan had been living in peace with the Gold Collar Guard all along, and still needed to rely on them to protect his safety, so how could he use Yan Mingting’s hand to kill so many people?

Could it be……Zhao Yelan was certain that he could find someone more suitable than the Gold Collar Guard to protect him?

Who? Yan Mingting?

After only a few days of acquaintance, your heart is already set on Yan Mingting?

While he was thinking about it, Eunuch Gao came in holding a painting and said: “Your Majesty, this is Zhao-daren’s painting. It was handed over to this old slave for safekeeping a few days before the wedding. Just now when I was tidying up, I remembered it and thought that His Majesty should decide where it goes.”

“What painting?” Zhao Xuan asked curiously.

Eunuch Gao unfolded the painting, and he saw a boy holding a fan.

“Isn’t this me?” Zhao Xuan’s thoughts shifted slightly. His fingers lingered on the painting for a moment, and he asked with some nostalgia, “When did I look like this?”

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? This is the first time Zhao-daren saw His Majesty. It was His Majesty’s discerning eyes that picked him out of the pile of slaves who were covered in filth,” Eunuch Gao reminded.

Zhao Xuan had long forgotten the day when he first met Zhao Yelan, but the scene at that time was still vivid in his memory. Zhao Yelan’s fragile eyes filled with the will to survive made him seem to be looking at himself, and later he often saw the meaning of adoration in those eyes.

“It has been so many years, but he still remembers how I used to be,” Zhao Xuan said with emotion. “This paper is so old, when did he draw it?”

“This slave does not know. He refused to reveal it, but he always remembered His Majesty’s kindness.”

“Forget it, let us go to Xuanhe Hall.” Zhao Xuan smiled gently, all doubts wiped away by the memory. “He has attracted so many enemies. This time, he probably caused a catastrophe unintentionally. Send a team of Gold Collar Guards to protect him secretly.”

After Yan Mingting left court, he first went to inspect the training grounds. Zhong Yuehong and He Cuizhang approached him quietly.

“What are the General’s orders?”

“In the past few days, you two have been covertly following Zhao Yelan,” Yan Mingting said.

The two were startled and looked at him with complicated expressions.

He Cuizhang: “General, you are lovesick, obsessed with desire, ah.”

Zhong Yuehong: “General, you are confused, ah.”

Yan Mingting was speechless, and then said in a low voice: “There may be people from the Emperor following him in the near future, so let’s just fight with them and kill as many as they come, so as not to have to circle around the General’s Mansion every day and make a lot of trouble.”

The two nodded, then stared blankly at him. “What? The Emperor’s people?!”

“Keep your voice down.” Yan Mingting looked forward. While inspecting the drills of the soldiers under the stage, he said calmly, “It’s just my guess. He’s likely the only one who dared to plant people around the General’s Mansion, forcing Zhao Yelan to use my hand to kill people.”

The two looked at each other, never having expected so many twists and turns. He Chuizhang asked: “Zhao Yelan borrowed the hands of others to kill people? General, how do you know?”

“Remember the man in black who I said escaped? Every time, he attacked Zhao Yelan first and drew the other men in black out, letting everyone mistakenly think that he was with that group of people. The group was far away, so naturally they couldn’t hear what happened. They saw that he was wearing the same clothes as them, so when they saw me fighting that person, they thought it was Zhao Yelan’s companion who had attacked and rushed out to fight me. Then that person took advantage of the chaos to escape. In fact, his role was just to lure the snake out of the hole and confuse the public.”

Yan Mingting smiled. “I didn’t suspect this at first, and I was almost fooled until I confirmed the identity of the man in black.”

“Who is it?” He Cuizhang asked.

“Gao Tan.”

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[1] The idiom, “Sending charcoal on a snowy day” (雪中送炭) means to provide help to someone in their hour of need. ⮐

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Chapter Fifteen <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Seventeen

The disturbance just now had gathered a lot of onlookers. It was only when he heard the commotion outside that Zhao Yelan came back to his senses and said in a lowered voice, “Let me down.”

“Aren’t your legs weak?” Yan Mingting teased.

Zhao Yelan pushed him away and stood firm on the ground to show that he was not affected in any way, but his clothes were dirty, which concerned him a bit.

As soon as the two walked out the door, Zhong Yuehong reported: “General, those people committed suicide.”

The subordinates had arrested two groups of people. One group was hiding in the crowd and sneaking around, and the other group was the men in black with strong martial arts skills.

Yan Mingting frowned slightly and walked quickly in front of the men in black. Breathing out, he pulled off their masks. Every face was ordinary, and when their robes were opened, they all wore uniform nightclothes with a sun pattern stitched in gold thread on the collars.

“They seem to be well-trained dead soldiers, but I don’t know which organization this is. They dared to try to assassinate an official of the court in the capital,” He Cuizhang said.

“Let’s give these people to the government first, and see if they can find anything,” Yan Mingting said. He turned around and asked Zhao Yelan, “Do you have any enemies?”

“I do, which one?”

Zhao Yelan had more than one enemy. Looking at the group of corpses, he felt that he could smell them, so he quickly took out his handkerchief to cover his nose, and coughed.

Seeing this, Yan Mingting arranged for his subordinates to stay in place and wait for the people from the government to come and take over, and then brought Zhao Yelan back to the mansion.

“My lord, what happened to you?” Gao Tan saw Zhao Yelan stepping through the door with a weary expression, and rushed to greet him.

“Go and get some hot water,” Zhao Yelan ordered.

“Okay.”

Yan Mingting looked at Gao Tan’s back as he left in a hurry, and his eyes narrowed imperceptibly.

The water was soon ready. Zhao Yelan went back to the room to bathe, changed into new clothes, picked out a slightly scented sachet to wear on his waist, and carried a scent as he walked.

Whether it was a different scent or he had just been exposed to it too much, Yan Mingting had gradually adapted to the scent that came out of the mansion at any time. It didn’t seem too pungent anymore. He asked, “How did the man in black find you today?”

“I went and asked someone to look for the shopkeeper, but a group of people in the crowd bumped into me, and then a man in black appeared,” Zhao Yelan said.

“Do you have anyone you suspect?”

Zhao Yelan shook his head.

Soon, Zhong Yuehong and He Cuizhang came to the mansion and said: “The government interrogations are over, and the rest of the people said they were ordered by Li Yucheng to teach Zhao Yelan a lesson.”

“Who is Li Yucheng?” Yan Mingting asked.

“The son of the Prime Minister,” Zhao Yelan said.

Yan Mingting asked Zhao Yelan thoughtfully: “What about the man in black? Were they with him?”

“They didn’t know about that group of people. I’m not sure if they were other experts hired by Li Yucheng,” Zhong Yuehong said.

“Go and invite Li Yucheng to have a chat.” Yan Mingting put his sword on the table.

However, it didn’t take long before news came out that Li Yucheng had run away from home. They didn’t know where he was hiding, and the Prime Minister was also looking for him everywhere.

“Send someone to track him down.”

“Yes.”

After they left, Yan Mingting glanced at Zhao Yelan and said: “The man in black and Li Yucheng may not be part of the same group. Maybe there are other people who want to assassinate you. You should reduce unnecessary excursions for the next few days. If you must go out, call me to join you.”

Zhao Yelan’s brows rose, and he smiled meaningfully: “Why does General Yan treat me so well?”

“With our relationship, why are you being polite? I can’t let you die as soon as you walk through the door, right? Then I’m afraid that my fate as an evil star will truly be confirmed.” Yan Mingting also smiled.

“Then, thank you, General,” Zhao Yelan said modestly and politely.

“Hiss, why am I not used to you like this? You’ve already said thank-you twice today.” Yan Mingting reached out and touched his forehead. “You don’t have a fever either, ah.”

Zhao Yelan batted his hand away expressionlessly.

“That’s right, that’s Zhao Yelan.”

“It turns out you have poor eyesight.” Zhao Yelan sneered and suddenly pinched his chin with force. His pupils shrank slightly. “I haven’t settled accounts with you just now. Don’t make unreasonable requests. Did I agree to you holding me?”

Yan Mingting frowned: “Then how do you want to settle the score?”

The distance between the two was less than half a foot, and every expression fell into the other’s eyes. During this stalemate, Housekeeper Qin came into the hall: “General……oh! I didn’t see anything! It is easy to go blind when you are old!”

Housekeeper Qin covered his eyes and hurriedly backed away.

Zhao Yelan: “……”

Yan Mingting smiled and pushed his hand away. Touching his chin, the feeling of being tightly gripped by those slender fingers seemed to still linger on the surface of the skin, putting him in a good mood. But what he said made him in need of a spanking: “I just like how you hate me but can’t kill me.”

Zhao Yelan was extremely angry, but he had unexpectedly hit the mark again, so he had no choice but to walk towards the gate, fuming.

“Where are you going?” Yan Mingting shouted from behind.

“Going outside to seek death and confirm your reputation as an evil star!” Zhao Yelan was so angry that he couldn’t control his mouth.

Yan Mingting laughed loudly, then followed after him and found that he was not wandering aimlessly, but straight in a certain direction, and wondered: “A clothing shop?”

Zhao Yelan ignored him and walked straight into the store.

“Yo, why did Zhao-daren come in person?” When the shopkeeper saw the big guest, he happily greeted him. “Are you here today to buy cloth or ready-to-wear?”

“Is the silk delivered a few days ago ready?” Zhao Yelan asked.

“The embroiderers are rushing to make it. The material you provided is so good, we don’t dare to be sloppy.” The shopkeeper said with a smile, “Why don’t you take a look at the newly arrived materials?”

Zhao Yelan nodded and wandered around.

Yan Mingting stood in the lobby, out of place and surrounded by women and children who secretly pointed at him and snickered. He awkwardly walked to Zhao Yelan’s side: “When are we going back?”

“What’s the rush? Since I’m out to seek death, of course I have to get results. Don’t you want to find out who is working behind the scenes?” Zhao Yelan casually picked up some fancy fabric and held it to Yan Mingting’s chest. “How about this one?”

“They clearly want to kill you, how can you be sure that I can catch the mastermind?” Yan Mingting shook his head. “It’s no good, I don’t want it.”

“Just a gut feeling.” Zhao Yelan’s lips curled. “Who said I would give this to you, it is for Gao Tan.”

“Is this the great General?” The shopkeeper covered his mouth in surprise and his eyes lit up. “So striking and handsome, with a casual and elegant bearing!”

The surrounding voices suddenly became louder, people looking at Yan Mingting in surprise as they pulled their companions in to whisper. The expressions of admiration and astonishment on their faces were beyond words.

The corners of Zhao Yelan’s mouth twitched, and he said in a low voice: “You are frequently active in the city these days. Before long, the rumors of your ugly appearance will crumble. General Yan might as well take a look at these women, each is beautiful in her own way, and if it’s love at first sight, you can take her back to fill in a room.”

The people around were peeping at them, so Yan Mingting could only lower his head and whisper in his ear with a smile: “Furen is stunning, second to none in the capital. I am already satisfied.”

Zhao Yelan shot him a cold look, threw the cloth on the table, and left angrily: “Are you the only one who deserves such good material?”

“Didn’t you get it for Xiao Gao?” Yan Mingting gave a muffled laugh, chased him out two or three steps, and suddenly stopped and grabbed his arm. He said in a low voice, “There is someone.”

Zhao Yelan was about to turn his head and look, when a big hand pinched his cheek.

“Don’t look, just keep going.”

“……”

The two went outside the city as usual, and as soon as they stopped, Yan Mingting pulled out his sword and stabbed in a certain direction behind him, provoking a black shadow from a tree, and the two quickly became entangled.

The people had been drawn out. Yan Mingting fought at will. In the corner of his eye, Zhao Yelan was still standing there foolishly in his original spot. “You go first, I’ll follow behind!”

Zhao Yelan looked up at their battle, but couldn’t hear clearly, and frowned: “What do you mean, braised pork?”^[1]

“……”

As soon as Yan Mingting was distracted, the man in black immediately diverted his attention, turning around to stab directly at Zhao Yelan.

In an instant, seven or eight men in black appeared from nowhere behind them to block the sword, attacking simultaneously. The man immediately sprinkled some poisonous powder and left the place in a flash.

Zhao Yelan took two steps back, and his mouth and nose were covered by Yan Mingting just in time. The group of men in black ran into Yan Mingting head-on as they narrowly escaped from the poisonous powder.

“Who are you?”

The group of people didn’t answer and were about to retreat, when they were stopped by Yan Mingting.

Standing in front of Yan Mingting, Zhao Yelan had just said, “Leave me alone,” when Yan Mingting hugged him tightly around his waist, and then his feet were in the air as his whole body flew up with him.

“Hold on tight, no matter what.” Yan Mingting thought that he was going to risk his life, and said with a straight face, “At worst, we die together, and we will be a pair of good brothers in the next life!”

Wind whistled in his ears along with the piercing sound of weapons clashing, and  danger visible to the naked eye was right in front of him. Numerous sharp weapons passed before him, his body was tugged back and forth, and he brushed shoulders with death several times. Zhao Yelan’s heart almost stopped beating.

Before he fainted, unable to take it anymore, he cursed: “Yan Mingting, go to hell!”

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[1] Both sentences Yan Mingting spoke ( nǐ xiān zǒu, wǒ duànhòu) sort of rhyme with ‘braised pork” (hóngshāo ròu). ⮐

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Chapter Fourteen <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Sixteen

Half of the precious twenty-day summer vacation had passed in the blink of an eye.

As for the “health education class,” with emphasis on the quotes, Ye Ci took it once and refused to honestly take it again. Their relationship had only been confirmed for so long – how could he be subject to such stimulation? As a result, Huo Tinglan, who had taken off his disguise, captured him and brought him to the study every time. As soon as it was time for class, the dignified head of the Huo family relied on his terrifyingly keen five senses to catch the little cat all over the house, using his high-quality top Alpha genes in crooked places.

He himself was a person with heavy desire, and had endured for too long to match Ye Ci’s pace, so it was understandable for him to do so.

The next round of susceptibility was coming soon, and he could finally ask his Omega for comfort. Huo Tinglan didn’t deliberately suppress it, and the medicine for susceptibility syndrome was stopped early. He just let nature take its course and waited for the susceptibility period to come, stroking and sniffing Ye Ci every day to relieve the discomfort caused by the pre-susceptible stage.

In the past few days, taking advantage of the Omega knowledge class, Huo Tinglan gave Ye Ci several informal “physical examinations.”

It could be seen that Ye Ci’s current development was good, and he would be able to withstand the intensity of a permanent mark without being harmed.

However, health was the top priority. Huo Tinglan didn’t intend to take any risks, so he still took time to take Ye Ci to the hospital for a comprehensive and detailed examination.

……The meticulousness was a bit much.

Ye Ci sat on a bench in the hospital corridor, his knuckles turning blue as he clutched the medical report that Huo Tinglan handed to him.

Due to excessive shame and indignation, the paper crumpled.

……The lining is smooth and soft, good dilation, complete development, no abnormalities……

He wanted to die.

Didn’t they use that unknown instrument to take a few laps up and down his belly and have that Omega doctor press a few times……

How did they come to such a series of conclusions?

It was already so advanced?!

“Have you read all, all of the report?” Ye Ci asked in a quivering voice, propping up his forehead with one hand.

Huo Tinglan said tactfully: “I read a bit.”

Ye Ci: “……….”

“Baby, these exams are a must.” Huo Tinglan looked at him tenderly, half comforting and half suggesting, “My susceptible period is in two days, and if I don’t hold back, I’ll mark you permanently……I don’t want to hurt you.”

Moreover, he also couldn’t bear it.

The matter of a permanent mark had finally come to the table.

Ye Ci’s pupils trembled, and he lowered his head in alarm.

Susceptibility syndrome was devastating to an Alpha both mentally and physically. Since its influence could be permanently eliminated with a lifetime mark, there was no excuse for Huo Tinglan to continue torturing himself.

It was also good for an Omega to have a permanent mark. It meant a stabler mood and hormones, and regular, manageable periods of fever.

Huo Tinglan sat down next to Ye Ci, held his long, thin white hands in his palms, and asked in a gentle voice: “Would you blame me if I didn’t hold back?”

Ye Ci licked his dry lips and murmured: “You don’t, don’t need……to endure it at all.”

Huo Tinglan gave a soft sigh and brazenly said: “Baby, how can you think of Huo-shushu so much?”

Ye Ci tried his best to fight against his soft heart. His lips were tightly pursed, for fear that more honeyed words would follow as soon as he opened his mouth.

“Say it just in case.” Huo Tinglan smiled, teasing him with words, “Baby, can you accept it?”

He was so shameless that Ye Ci didn’t know how to answer.

Thus,Huo Tinglan changed the question: “So it’s not acceptable, is that it?”

Ye Ci’s chest rose and fell quickly, and he shook his head: “……That’s not it.”

“It’s not unacceptable.” Huo Tinglan smiled and said unhurriedly, “Double negation means affirmation.”

“ ! ” Ye Ci’s face went red. He jumped up and slipped away without a trace along with the full set of medical reports.

He couldn’t be around Huo-shushu for one second!

. . . . . .

It was two o’clock in the morning.

A groan suddenly sounded in the quiet bedroom.

The tone was hoarse and pained, as if someone had just woken up from a nightmare.

Huo Tinglan stared at the ceiling. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his ink-black pupils trembled neurotically.

His heart was beating like it was about to burst.

Fortunately, the warm temperature by his side quickly brought him back to reality. There was a heavy feeling of pressure on his upper arm. Ye Ci was resting on it, sound asleep.

……It was a dream.

He slowly tightened the arm holding Ye Ci and rubbed the back of his neck with the other hand.

The Alpha glands were already boiling hot with excitement, accompanied by the beating of his heart.

This round of susceptibility had already begun.

No wonder.

The excessive secretion of glandular hormones during the susceptible period would increase an Alpha’s sensitivity and alertness, thereby amplifying negative emotions and the dark side of their personality.

Moreover, yesterday was the anniversary of Ye Ci’s death in his previous life……

He knew that that “future” would never happen again in this one, and had long been obliterated, but his mood was unavoidably low. He concealed it impeccably during the day, but after nightfall, he failed to escape the intrusion of nightmares.

He dreamed of that temple.

Bright yellow walls, green-gray tiles, magnificent snowy mountains, so white that they shaded to blue. It was late summer, but the altitude where the temple was located was very high. He wore a windbreaker and could still feel the chill.

He was an atheist, but Lin Yao held the belief that “if you believe in it, it exists, and if you don’t believe in it, it doesn’t exist.” She didn’t usually mention these things, but she had also made offerings to temples. Therefore, after Ye Ci passed away unexpectedly, she advocated praying for him – – they prayed for blessings for the dead, but it was actually the living who were comforted.

Huo Tinglan didn’t care about anything at that time. Lin Yao made up her own mind and took care of all the big and small matters by herself. The only thing she asked him to do was to sign the donation agreement for the temple, and dragged him by force on the day of the ceremony.

He was in disbelief, his face frozen along the way like an empty shell, until Lin Yao personally offered Ye Ci the ever-burning lamp.^[1]

According to her, the ever-burning lamp could be provided to the living to seek a safe and long life, and it could also be offered to the dead to illuminate the soul’s way to the next life and accumulate blessings. 

“……Xiao Ci had a hard time in this life, and his good fortune was small, his predestined fate with us was too shallow.” Lin Yao hugged her son’s shoulders with difficulty, rubbing them in distress. The Alpha’s frame was tall and broad, but he hardly ate or drank these days, and was worn down to a skeleton. “Let’s offer a lamp to Xiao Ci, perform a good ceremony, and accumulate merit for him. In this way, if there is an afterlife, he will surely live in peace and joy. Perhaps you will meet again in the next life, and your fate will be deeper, unable to be broken apart. Maybe you can meet him earlier, protect him earlier, and prevent him from suffering. It’s all arranged by the heavens, who can say for sure. I believe that sincerity leads to success. If me, you, and your father all believe in this matter wholeheartedly, then we will definitely be able to……Tinglan?……”

“……I want this life.” Huo Tinglan shook his head. He hadn’t spoken for a few days, and when he did speak, his voice was rough and unfamiliar.

– – I want this life.

Approximately this sentence.

He couldn’t remember clearly. He was numb during that time, his mind in a daze, and his memory was not solid.

What previous life, afterlife……they were too illusory, too ethereal.

He only wanted this life.

In this life, he wanted him to have peace and joy.

In this life, he wanted to have a deep fate with him, which could not be broken apart.

In this life, he wanted to protect him as soon as possible, so as not to let him suffer so much……

He knelt down before the Buddha statue.

It was said that sincerity leads to success.

As Lin Yao asked, he had donated the Buddha statue, and the red sandalwood and silver tiles. The temple hall was rebuilt, along with the glazed tile pagoda. He did everything, kowtowed, and shed tears. Was it sincere enough? Would it work?

Tears wet the corners of his eyes, dampening the blue bricks in front of the Buddha statue.

His mother said that the ever-burning lamp could illuminate Ye Ci’s path to the afterlife, so that he would not be frightened, miserable, or scared of the dark.

Could it then give him light to find his way?

. . . . . . 

After that, he lived like the walking dead for a while.

And then, a few months later, he woke up that morning and time had gone backwards.

He had no way of knowing whether it was true that sincerity leads to success, or if it was just a coincidence. But in any case, he had miraculously returned to the year after he turned thirty. The first thing he did was to go to the Chu family and commit robbery. The second thing was to go to the temple that Lin Yao took him to in order to fulfill his vows, and donate a sum of money far more generous than in the past for various repairs in the ancient temple.

Whether it was true or not, he wanted peace of mind.

Then, another few months passed.

The grief that once pierced his heart and bones had long since disappeared. However, the psychological shadow had not been completely removed. Especially when he was affected by the susceptible period, the heartache and despair of that time would come to haunt him and make him wake up in the middle of the night when he dreamt of the past.

Huo Tinglan’s breathing gradually became heavy, and he hugged Ye Ci in his arms tighter and tighter.

Alphas who lacked a sense of security would tend to “mark” their Omega……

The rich fragrance of tequila madly invaded every inch of Ye Ci’s skin.

The nearly suffocating tightness all over his body and the slight tingling of his skin woke Ye Ci up.

“Huo-shushu, what……what’s the matter?” He rubbed his bleary, sleepy eyes. The steel-like arms around him hurt, but he didn’t struggle to get free, and stroked Huo Tinglan’s back with difficulty using his moveable forearm.

“Baby……” This sort of comfort made Huo Tinglan relax a little, and the pain from being constricted was no longer so painful. He lowered his head like a wounded beast, silently buried his face in the socket of Ye Ci’s shoulder, and sniffed the sweet vanilla pheromones hungrily.

Ye Ci’s neck was pressed against Huo Tinglan’s cheek.

Smooth, damp, and slightly cool.

“Are, are you……” Ye Ci was slightly startled, and was forced to move back. It was like pushing away a giant, clingy dog. Reluctantly fighting for a little space within Huo Tinglan’s arms, he twisted his neck desperately to check Huo Tinglan’s face.

The moist touch and luster……was like tears.

Would A+ grade Alphas be sentimental during the susceptible period?

Ye Ci was anxious and sat up suddenly, hugging Huo Tinglan back with all his strength.

“If, if something is the matter, you can tell me anything.” He was so anxious that he couldn’t care about anything, and his speech was much more agile than usual. “Don’t keep it all inside, I’m worried to see you like this. Is, is it not going well at work?”

“No……it’s nothing.” Huo Tinglan suppressed his emotions, let out a sigh of relief, and comforted him, “Let me hold you for a while, baby.”

Ye Ci paused for a moment, then lowered his voice: “Is that an emotional matter?……”

Huo Tinglan benefited from Ye Ci’s anxious concern, and the aftermath of the nightmare disappeared without a trace. He smiled and said truthfully, “It is, ba.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell into silence.

Maybe half a minute later, Ye Ci very slowly withdrew from Huo Tinglan’s arms and eased into bed.

After a while, his muffled voice, softer than the sound of a mosquito, came from the bed.

“I didn’t, didn’t say……that I, I wouldn’t let you permanently mark me.”

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[1] A light that would be left lit in a tomb until the flame went out by itself. ⮐

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Chapter Thirty-Nine << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-One