The startled innkeeper, who was too afraid to move, finally dared to approach with a tray and serve the dishes on Yan Ge’s table.
In this small town, there were no famous or elaborate dishes, just some home-cooked meals like tomato and scrambled eggs, eggplant stir-fried with pork, braised tofu, deep-fried small fish, chicken stew with potatoes, stir-fried cucumber with meat, and vegetable and egg soup. Although simple, the aroma was delightful.
After finishing their meal, Yan Ge promptly paid the bill and said to Zhang Feilong and Zhang Feihu, “Brothers, I must thank you for this opportunity. It is a great fortune to have the chance to meet both of you today. If it weren’t for you showing us the way, I and… the innkeeper might have ended up wandering all the way to the North Sea.” In front of others, to save face for his beloved, Yan Ge didn’t address him as “Chen Chen” or “husband” but simply called him “his innkeeper.”
He was both courteous and humorous, his words made Zhang Feilong and Zhang Feihu laugh, so they didn’t refuse.
Yan Ge continued, “Brothers, it’s our family’s custom to take a stroll after a meal. Let’s part ways for now.”
“Very well, please go ahead.”
Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, and Yan Jin then got up and left.
Yingzun’s gaze lingered on them for a moment.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen turned back simultaneously, but Yingzun averted his gaze, smiling and nodding before shifting his eyes away.
As they walked further, Yan Ge couldn’t help but sigh, “Chenchen, those with extensive knowledge and experience are truly remarkable. Their insight is as bright as a torch. I even have a feeling that he sees right through me.”
Huangfu Yuchen wrapped his arm around Yan Ge’s waist. “Call me your ‘innkeeper’ again.”
Yan Ge glanced at him disdainfully. “Just an innkeeper. What’s there to be proud of? Bai Jushen is an innkeeper, Wen Xian is an innkeeper, Yuan An is an innkeeper, and even the owner of that small inn is an innkeeper. They’re everywhere.”
Huangfu Yuchen raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I’m unaware that ‘the innkeeper’ implies ‘husband’?”
Yan Ge spoke seriously, “I believe we should discuss the issue of titles between us. If I keep calling you ‘Chen Chen’ too often in front of others, I’m afraid some perceptive individuals might guess your identity.”
“Then call me ‘husband,’ ‘your innkeeper’ is also fine,” Huangfu Yuchen smiled.
“I’m being serious with you.” Yan Ge slapped his back with a palm.
Only then did Huangfu Yuchen seriously consider it. “Among the common people, when a man comes of age, it’s not appropriate to call him by his given name directly. Usually, a separate name is chosen to reflect his virtues. However, such a custom doesn’t exist within the imperial family. How about you give me a name that only you can use?”
Giving Huangfu Yuchen another name? Yan Ge became intrigued. “Alright, let me think. I remember reading in historical records that ancient people often used the character ‘zi’ as part of their names because ‘zi’ is a beautiful and respectful title for men. Let’s use ‘zi’ as the first character…”
Huangfu Yuchen laughed, hugging Yan Ge’s waist as they continued walking, not hindering their leisurely stroll.
Yan Jin felt utterly redundant. He took out snacks from his bag and chewed them with puffed cheeks.
“’Chen’ means beautiful jade, so let’s choose the character ‘rui,’ which also carries the meaning of auspiciousness and good fortune. The name ‘Zirui’ is quite fitting. What do you think?”
“Great!” Huangfu Yuchen took advantage of a moment when Yan Ge was distracted and pulled him into an embrace, kissing his lips. “I really like it. Inside the palace, you can still call me Yuchen, but outside the palace, call me Zirui. Only you can use it.”
Yan Ge nodded. “And what about me? It seems like I don’t have a name other than my given name. Otherwise, my father and mother wouldn’t directly call me by my name. How about you give me a name too?”
“No need. I think ‘Madam’ , ‘wife’ and ‘baby’ are good enough.” Huangfu Yuchen continued walking forward, showing a dismissive attitude.
Yan Ge had a deep sense of being taken advantage of. Helplessly rubbing his forehead, he caught up with Huangfu Yuchen. “Forget it. You’re my beloved, and it’s only natural that I dote on you.”
Huangfu Yuchen thought to himself, ‘who let you have a slight advantage in words.’
Yan Ge continued, “Let’s focus on the important matter. Zhang Feilong and Zhang Feihu are hospitable and straightforward. They might invite us to join them tomorrow. I think we should find a way to leave early.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “We’ll leave at midnight and leave them a note at the counter, saying that something urgent came up, and we had to leave first.”
“Sounds feasible.”
In the deep of the night, while everyone was sound asleep, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen quietly rode their horses and swiftly galloped into the distance under the moonlight.
After two more days of rushing on the road, the two finally arrived at the border city of Xiguan. Xiguan, being a strategic military location, was evident from its thick and towering city walls. On the walls, soldiers with dark and stern faces patrolled back and forth, radiating a formidable military presence.
At the eastern city gate, there were two long queues of people entering the city. Most of them were peasants bringing their harvest to sell in the city and merchants transporting goods in large quantities. Among them were also many dark-haired individuals with profound features. After all, being a border town, there was frequent trade between the two kingdoms. Everyone entering the city had to undergo a strict inspection by the soldiers before being allowed in. If they wanted to enter or exit through the western city gate, the same inspection was required to prevent enemy spies from infiltrating the Great Han Kingdom.
Huangfu Yuchen politely asked a middle-aged man standing in front of them, “Brother, is the inspection at Xiguan’s gate always this strict?”
The man replied, “No, it wasn’t like this before. There used to be inspections, but not as thorough as in the past few days. Recently, for some reason, there has been an influx of people from the martial world. General Cao is concerned about potential issues, so he issued a high alert and increased the scrutiny. We often bring mountain products to the city to sell, so we’re used to it.”
The climate in the west was relatively dry, and after waiting for a while, their mouths became parched. Yan Ge took out a water pouch from his bundle, he took a few sips and passed it to Huangfu Yuchen.
Yan Jin carried a small bag on his back. He took out a smaller water pouch from his bag and drank from it. It contained fruit juice.
“Papa, I’m a little hungry.”
Yan Ge glanced around and said, “We can’t enter the city, so where can we find something to eat?” Although his system backpack contained plenty of food, it was not from this era, and it would be strange to take it out and eat it.
Huangfu Yuchen noticed a young man carrying a burden in the other queue. The burden contained several large jars emitting a delicious fragrance. He said to Yan Ge, “Watch him, I’ll go buy something for us to eat.”
Yan Ge watched as Huangfu Yuchen walked over to the young man and said something while handing him a money pouch. Warmth filled his heart, and a smile appeared on his lips, eyes, and face. He could never have imagined that an emperor would personally go and buy something worth just a few coins for them.
“A family of three?” an auntie in the neighboring queue approached Yan Ge. She had a basket hanging on her arm covered with cloth, and it could be seen that it contained eggs.
Yan Ge nodded.
The auntie smiled ambiguously, “Your husband treats his wife so well.”
Yan Ge chuckled. Auntie, why are you so sure I’m his “wife”? Just because I’m carrying a child?
“The child is so cute,” the auntie complimented Yan Jin and quietly asked, “Is he your biological child?” It seemed like she wanted to ask if he was the offspring of the husband’s concubine.
Yan Ge: “…”
Yan Ge glanced at the auntie and said, “Auntie, be careful, someone might steal the eggs from your basket.”
The auntie quickly turned around, tightened the cloth on the basket, looked around vigilantly, and stopped talking to Yan Ge.
Huangfu Yuchen walked over with a tray containing eight bowls: a bowl of vegetable porridge, a bowl of noodle soup, a bowl of white rice porridge, a bowl of plump steamed buns, a bowl of stuffed buns, a bowl of steamed dumplings, and a bowl of noodles. The abundant food attracted the attention of people around them.
“Why did you buy so much?” Yan Ge asked.
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “I didn’t know what you would like to eat, so I bought a bit of everything. They’re still hot, so let’s eat while it’s warm.”
Yan Ge kept the steamed dumplings, stuffed buns, white rice porridge, and noodle soup for himself. The other four bowls shouldn’t go to waste, so he asked the man he had previously asked for directions if he wanted to have some. The man gladly thanked him and accepted.
The auntie couldn’t help herself and swiftly took the bowl of noodles with meat from the tray, not forgetting to say thank you.
Since there were no tables, Huangfu Yuchen placed one end of the tray on the horse’s back and held the other end, using a spoon to scoop some white rice porridge to drink.
Yan Ge tasted a dumpling and said, “It’s a bit spicy, but it’s good.” He picked up a dumpling and fed it to Huangfu Yuchen.
He then drank the noodle soup and squinted his eyes in satisfaction, “Hmm. The soup has a bit of spiciness to it, it tastes great.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “The western region is colder in autumn, winter, and spring compared to other places, so the people here prefer stronger flavors and spiciness to keep warm. Have another one.”
“Get it for me,” Yan Ge said as he gazed at Huangfu Yuchen. He was dressed in a moon-white robe, and was leaning against the horse’s belly with a relaxed and captivating demeanor. No longer serving him.
Huangfu Yuchen looked at him, not taking any action or saying a word, only smiling.
Yan Ge picked up a dumpling and deliberately stuffed it into Huangfu Yuchen’s mouth with force. Huangfu Yuchen choked on it, and he hurriedly patted his back.
“Have some porridge,” Yan Ge scooped a spoonful.
Huangfu Yuchen opened his mouth and swallowed it, saying, “I’m fine now.”
On the city wall, a young man dressed in a bluish-gray scholarly robe was leaning on the stone railing, staring at something below. His gaze was unwavering, and his mouth watered. He wore a black cloak, similar to some of the soldiers, indicating a close connection with the garrison.
“Military advisor, what are you looking at?” a burly man in a general’s robe strode in. His features were resolute, and his face, weathered by years of sun exposure, added a touch of rugged charm.
“A feast for the eyes, it’s a feast for the eyes!” Feng Zhun didn’t even turn his head. “I’ve been stationed at the border for two years—eating poorly, sleeping poorly, having no fun or love…surrounded by rough men. It was worth witnessing this scene today!”
Cao Zhan furrowed his brows, followed Feng Zhun’s gaze, but didn’t notice anything particular.
“Do you see it?” Feng Zhun moved closer to him and nudged him with his elbow, his gaze fixed and unwavering. “Isn’t it incredibly pleasing to the eye?”
“What is it?” Cao Zhan remained expressionless.
Feng Zhun finally turned his head to glance at him but gave him a look that said, “You’re beyond redemption.”
“I mean those two men in the queue over there, both dressed in white, leading horses, and one of them even has a child on the horse. Can’t you see? Aren’t they both very handsome?”
“They are a couple.” Cao Zhan made a rare comment on matters unrelated to warfare.
“I know.” Feng Zhun continued to stare at Ya Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.
Cao Zhan: “They are well-matched.”
“I know.” Feng Zhun replied impatiently. Suddenly, the slightly stern-looking man glanced in their direction, and their eyes met from a distance. His first thought was, “Could that man have overheard his conversation with Cao Zhan?” But then he realized how foolish that was. How could he hear from such a distance?
“So, no matter which one of them catches your eye, you don’t stand a chance,” Cao Zhan objectively analyzed.
Feng Zhun turned his head to stare at Cao Zhan. “I want to curse someone’s father.”
Cao Zhan pointed at a rat that had crawled out of a hole in the wall. “Try its father.”
“Get lost!”
Huangfu Yuchen looked at Yan Ge and smiled, raising his hand to gently stroke his hair.
“We’re finally getting close,” Yan Ge patted the horse and urged it forward.
Yan Jin had eaten and drank his fill, and now he lay on the horse’s back, sleeping soundly, with a trace of drool at the corner of his mouth. He had a safety strap invented by Yan Ge tied to his back, so there was no worry of him falling off the horse.
It was now Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen’s turn. Huangfu Yuchen handed over their shared baggage and Yan Jin’s small backpack to be inspected. As the soldier was about to take them, a figure rushed over and squeezed in front, immediately taking the two bags.
