“Who is General Cao?” someone asked.
The person next to him explained, “General Cao is the overall commander of the stationed border troops in Xiguan Pass.”
The fact that this matter was related to the stationed border commander made it clear that this incident was sure to escalate, even for those who knew little about politics. With so many people from Great Han being manipulated and imprisoned by the Mai Kingdom, the court would surely lose face and not let this matter go easily. Thinking about this. Thinking of this, the emotions of the crowd finally calmed down.
“Since that’s the case, let’s leave first and discuss later,” He Wanli said.
Everyone had no objections.
After exiting the tunnel, everyone introduced themselves and left their names.
Only at this point did Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen notice that the head of the Luna Worshipping Sect and his disciples were also among them. Both sides nodded to each other.
The others expressed their gratitude to Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen once again, and then they dispersed, each finding a place to buy horses and returning to their respective places.
Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Jin, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, and a few others, along with Zeng Shouli and his disciples, all returned to Xiguan Pass together.
Yan Ge sent a message to Huangfu Yuchen, “Zirui, I don’t understand. Why did you kill everyone instead of leaving anyone alive to interrogate? Aren’t you curious about what’s going on?”
“No need to interrogate; this is Hu Mailong’s conspiracy,” Huangfu Yuchen said. “There was a leader who should have known something among the people I killed but I had to kill him with a single strike, so as not to leave any traces of interrogation. It’s not the right time to confront the Mai Kingdom openly. We have to remain silent temporarily to avoid alerting the enemy. Besides, almost all of the people were killed with just one move from the two of us. Just this fact alone will give Hu Mailong nightmares every night.”
“I see.” Although Yan Ge felt a bit aggrieved, he understood that their kingdom was currently in a period of rapid development. If they really went to war with the Mai Kingdom, all their previous efforts would be in vain.
Seeing Yan Ge’s slight dissatisfaction, Huangfu Yuchen knew what he was thinking. He swiftly moved to his back and rode on the same horse as him, paying no attention to the gazes of Zeng Shouli and his disciples.
“Baby, don’t be unhappy. I promise to give you a chance to vent your anger. And this opportunity will come soon,” Huangfu Yuchen hugged Yan Ge and lightly kissed his cheek, then kissed the corner of his mouth.
“Really?” Yan Ge’s mood improved a little.
“When have I ever deceived you?” Huangfu Yuchen relaxed against his back. “Hu Mailong knows that our kingdom will become stronger and stronger, but he doesn’t dare to start a war with us lightly. He will act from other angles. This plan failed, so he will take action again soon. Then, we will seize the opportunity and deal him a heavy blow. As long as we can make him behave for two or three years, our kingdom would even stronger by then. If you like, I’ll bring the Mai Kingdom down and give it to you as a gift. How about that?”
Yan Ge chuckled, “No need for that. A gift that big would be too tiring to carry.”
“Don’t worry; I’ll carry it for you.” Huangfu Yuchen looked at the bright and charming smile on his baby’s face from the side. He couldn’t help but want to hold him and kiss him. But with the others around, it was inconvenient.
“Should we go directly back to the capital after returning to Xiguan Pass?” Yan Ge felt Huangfu Yuchen’s restlessness and gave him a warning look.
Huangfu Yuchen moved away a little regretfully. “We can play a few more days if you want, and we’ll go back when you feel like it.”
Yan Ge said, “Let’s play a few more days and then go back. There will be many things to take care of when we return.”
Huangfu Yuchen tightly hugged him and sighed gently, “Baby, you’ve worked hard these years. Give me five more years, and I promise, within five years at most, we will be free from the palace’s cage. By then, Yunxi will have grown up and can shoulder his responsibilities. Wherever you want to go, I’ll take you there. I want to make you happy every day, without worries.”
Yan Ge was surprised and turned to look at him, “Five years? Yunxi will only be thirteen by then. Are you planning to abdicate and pass the throne to him so early?”
“What’s wrong with thirteen?” Huangfu Yuchen didn’t think it was a big deal. “I took the throne at thirteen as well. Baby, don’t always spoil him.”
‘Why did he sound so sour?’ Yan Ge said helplessly, “What nonsense are you talking about? When the time comes, Yunxi can try to rule temporarily, we can’t actually pass the throne to him. Thirteen is still too young.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s face turned dark, “But…”
Yan Ge quickly pacified him, “I’m thinking about the best interests of Great Han. How about this, when the time comes, we divide the year into three parts. You and Yunxi manage the kingdom together for four months, Yunxi manages it alone for four months, and we travel together for four months. How does that sound?”
“That’s not bad,” Huangfu Yuchen was finally pleased.
Yan Ge glanced at him with a smile.
This look was like a little cat scratching Huangfu Yuchen’s heart. He covered Yan Ge’s face with his hand and turned his head forward.
Yan Ge felt puzzled and wanted to turn back, “What are you doing?”
“Baby, if you look at me like you did just now, I’ll have to punish you right here,” Huangfu Yuchen said.
Yan Ge used his elbow to nudge him firmly, “Go back to your own horse.”
Huangfu Yuchen didn’t move, lying on his shoulder, “I’m tired. Let me rest here for a while.”
Zeng Zhenzhen and Yan Jin were riding together on one horse. Looking at the affection between Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, Zeng Zhenzhen said enviously, “Little Jiacheng, your fathers have such a good relationship.”
Yan Jin asked playfully, “Sister, are you envious of my papa or my father?”
Zeng Zhenzhen blushed and whispered, “Don’t talk nonsense.” With both of them being so outstanding in appearance and temperament, it was hard not to be moved. She liked Yan Ge more and if Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen weren’t married, she might have actively pursued Yan Ge. But she was sensible, so her fondness for Yan Ge was more of an admiration.
Besides, seeing Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen being so affectionate and understanding of each other all the way, she found it sweet and would never think of breaking them apart.
After a few hours of traveling, the group took a short rest under the shade of trees by the roadside.
Yan Ge occupied the most solid and shady spot under a tree. Although he wasn’t afraid of the heat, he didn’t enjoy being scorched by the sun.
Once he sat down, he didn’t want to move. He fanned himself with a fan, and felt quite relaxed.
Huangfu Yuchen sat down next to him and held both him and the fan, quickly condensing his true qi to form a thin layer of ice on the fan. As Yan Ge fanned, a refreshing breeze swept through, providing an even cooler sensation.
Yan Ge smiled at Huangfu Yuchen in appreciation and continued fanning the two of them.
Zeng Zhenzhen couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. ‘Master Luo really spoils his wife, he uses his true qi just to cool him down!’
Yan Jin ran over and squatted down, feeding a piece of beef jerky into Yan Ge’s mouth, then handing another piece to Huangfu Yuchen, smiling as he looked at the latter expectantly.
Yan Ge fanned Yan Jin a few times and gave Huangfu Yuchen a threatening look. Huangfu Yuchen reluctantly opened his mouth and ate the beef jerky.
The warmth and sweetness of the family of three were truly enviable.
Zeng Shouli walked over, cupped his fists, and said, “Young Master Luo, Madam Luo.”
“Master Zeng Shouli, you don’t need to be so formal. Please sit,” Yan Ge didn’t want to get up and made a hand gesture as an invitation.
Zeng Shouli didn’t feel disrespected in the slightest; instead, he admired Yan Ge’s straightforwardness and laughed heartily, then sat down on the ground nearby.
Zeng Zhenzhen and the several disciples of Zeng Shouli couldn’t believe their eyes. Was this their rule-abiding and image-conscious master?
Zeng Shouli said, “I heard from my little girl that Young Master Luo and Madam Luo arrived at Xiguan Pass not long ago, so I assume you won’t leave immediately. I wonder if I could invite you to Yingshan Hall to show my gratitude.”
Huangfu Yuchen simply said, “My wife makes the decisions.”
Zeng Zhenzhen liked Yan Jin very much, and she was afraid Yan Ge would decline, so she enthusiastically joined the invitation, “Madam Luo, come with us. Yingshan Hall is surrounded by trees, and it’s very cool. It would be nice just to go and escape the summer heat.”
The more friends, the more options. Yan Ge nodded with a smile, “Since Master Zeng has invited us, we shall gladly accept.”
That’s great.” Zeng Shouli was overjoyed. “My grandson is the same age as the Little Master, and I believe they will have fun together.”
After a few hours of rest, the group continued their journey.
They returned to Xiguan Pass smoothly, and Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen arranged to visit the Yinshan Hall the next day. Zeng Shouli led Zeng Zhenzhen and dozens of disciples back to the Yinshan Hall.
Yan Ge asked Gao Feng to go to the inn and report their safety to his brother. He and Huangfu Yuchen returned to the General’s Mansion to freshen up.
Naturally, the conditions at the General’s Mansion were not as good as the palace, and they could only bathe in a wooden tub.
However, for Huangfu Yuchen, a wooden tub had its own advantages.
While Yan Ge was using a cloth to pour water over himself, someone suddenly entered from behind, causing a splash that soaked the floor.
“You’re squeezing me.”
“I’ll hold you so there won’t be any squeezing,” Huangfu Yuchen said, and without waiting for Yan Ge’s response, he wrapped his arms around Yan Ge’s waist and lifted him up, placing him on his lap.
Yan Ge guessed what he intended to do and his face turned hot. “Don’t be reckless; it’s still broad daylight.”
“No one would dare to barge in,” Huangfu Yuchen held him tightly.
The two wrestled in the wooden tub for awhile, and only when Huangfu Yuchen was satisfied did he skillfully use the cloth to help Yan Ge wash his back and hair. “All done, baby.”
“Um, I’ll go out first,” Yan Ge stood up, but Huangfu Yuchen couldn’t resist leaning over and kissing him while pushing him back into the tub.
Just as they were kissing, they suddenly felt a lightness beneath them. Huangfu Yuchen quickly hugged Yan Ge tightly, and in the next moment, they heard a “splash” – the tub had cracked.
“Are you satisfied? Now everyone knows what we were doing just now,” Yan Ge looked at Huangfu Yuchen with a sidelong glance.
Huangfu Yuchen looked at the water on the floor and the broken wooden tub. He raised his hand and, with another “splash,” his own tub also cracked.
Yan Ge’s mouth twitched. This was really… creative.
The attendants in the courtyard were alarmed by the commotion and rushed over, fearing that something had happened to the esteemed guests. They knocked on the door, “Master Luo, Madam Luo, are you alright?”
After a moment, the door opened.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen walked out gracefully.
“We’re fine,” Yan Ge said matter-of-factly, “Tell your general that even when saving money to marry a wife, you can’t be too frugal. Aren’t these tubs too cheap? Cheap goods are not good.”
With that, he confidently pulled Huangfu Yuchen along and left.
Several attendants looked at each other. ‘Cheap? The steward had said that the tub was specifically purchased for Master Luo and Madam Luo, and it was bought from the best woodcraft store in the city for 15 silver taels each.’
When they returned to the inn, Yan Ge still had an amused expression on his face.
Yan Su who was holding Yan Xiangtian amd waiting by the door couldn’t help but ask, “Is there something good that happened?”
Yan Ge quickly denied, “Nothing. Tiantian, do you miss your uncle?” He then lifted Yan Xiangtian into his arms.
“I do,” Yan Xiangtian smacked Yan Ge’s face with a kiss.
Huangfu Yuchen lightly patted Yan Ge’s face as if unconsciously, using his sleeve to wipe away the saliva. Yan Su couldn’t help but smile to himself. “Both of you, please come in.”
They sat down in the room, and Yan Ge said to Yan Su, “Big Brother, we’ll stay in Xiguan Pass for two more days before heading back to the capital.”
Yan Su had long guessed that they wouldn’t stay for long. As the ruler of a country, Huangfu Yuchen had his hands full, not to mention his second brother who was busy helping Great Han develop its economy and military strength. Although he was reluctant to part with Yan Xiangtian, just having the chance to see his son already made him luckier than many people in the military camp.
“Understood, I’ll spend the next two days with Tiantian,” Yan Su replied.
