The Blood Crown - Chapter 100

When Yan Sikong woke up the next day, Feng Ye was nowhere to be seen.

But he was in a mess, yet meticulously cleaned up, and changed into dry clothes. Only the discomfort below reminded him that everything that happened last night was not just a drunken fantasy, and Feng Ye had indeed been here.

He lay on the bed, too tired to move, staring blankly at the canopy above, feeling desolate in his heart. Thinking back to the argument between the two of them last night, he still felt lingering fear.

He never wanted to anger Feng Ye, but the depth of their contradictions was beyond words to resolve. He had long known that his feelings for Feng Ye were a huge mistake. He rarely made mistakes in his life, let alone such a monumental one that he knowingly committed, yet he still couldn’t restrain himself, making one mistake after another, until he couldn’t contain it anymore.

If he ruined his plan of more than ten years because of this, how could he face Yuanmao and Yuannanyu after he died?

He lifted his hand and slapped himself hard, the hot pain on his cheek making his mind a little clearer.

Cut off when necessary, don’t sink deeper. Let it end like this… it’s for the best.

He covered his eyes with the back of his hand, silently chanting, let it end, let it end here, but a wave of sourness surged up to his nose.

—-

After the grand banquet, those who hadn’t come to congratulate Yan Sikong when he became the principal of the Ministry of Rites Selection Office came one after another, either sending servants or coming in person, to congratulate him on becoming the provisional son-in-law.

Yan Sikong glanced at the list of gifts and found that Xie Zhongren had also sent a congratulatory gift, which was quite valuable. He knew that Xie Zhongren was proud of his student, but he didn’t avoid it. This was not only for the Emperor to see but also a provocation to Yan Zilian. It didn’t necessarily mean he really wanted to win over Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong treated everyone equally and accepted all the gifts. Although the treasures of gold and silver he pried out were of considerable value, he had also spent a lot. Most of it had been used to buy information and bribes, so these gifts could fill his private treasury.

In addition, he couldn’t refuse the consecutive banquets. Unlike two years ago, now he and the banquets were no longer attended by those idle nobles and dandies, but by their superiors and fathers.

Yan Sikong deliberately got drunk several times. Except for keeping a string in his mind and not saying what shouldn’t be said, he was carried back every night. Fortunately, it was the New Year holiday now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to leave the house, let alone enter the palace.

Ali looked at Yan Sikong, who was covered in vomit, and sighed as he cleaned him up.

At this moment, Yan Sikong, who was drunk and unconscious, suddenly woke up as if returning to his senses. He grabbed Ali’s wrist.

Ali was startled. After all, Yan Sikong was a martial artist, even though he was drunk, his strength was still great. Moreover, the more he grasped, the tighter he became, and his eyes, filled with bloodshot veins, stared straight at him.

Ali also widened his eyes, not understanding why Yan Sikong was staring at him like this.

Yan Sikong stared at Ali for a long time, and a trace of clarity appeared in his eyes. He murmured disappointedly, “It’s you…”

Ali looked at Yan Sikong helplessly and asked if he wanted something to eat.

Yan Sikong shook his head. “What time is it?”

Ali said, “It’s the hour of the tiger.”

“I’ve drunk until this hour again…” Yan Sikong smiled bitterly. “I haven’t even become the son-in-law yet, I’m afraid I’ll…drink myself to death.” When he said the word “death,” there was actually a hint of excitement in his tone, as if it were something enjoyable.

Ali put down the cloth and gestured with both hands: Is the heir not coming anymore?

Yan Sikong shook his head absentmindedly. “He probably won’t.”

Feng Ye, despite his wild and unrestrained nature, would probably find it difficult to face his future brother-in-law candidly, especially in matters of same-sex relationships, which were not acceptable when involving relatives. Moreover, Wan Yang was not only Feng Ye’s cousin but also a princess of the current dynasty, with such a noble status that such indiscretions were intolerable.

Therefore, Feng Ye probably wouldn’t come looking for him again.

Most of the time, Feng Ye was in the Jingshan Camp, while he was in the capital. They were a military general and a civil official, with little interaction in ordinary times. If Feng Ye didn’t come looking for him, would they… would they find it difficult to meet again?

Why did he keep thinking of Feng Ye? Feng Ye seemed to be nailed in his mind, impossible to shake off.

In the bitter cold of winter, having someone by his side would have made the days and nights much warmer. He must be thinking of Feng Ye so often because he was too cold.

Aili looked at Yan Sikong’s disheartened appearance and sighed silently.

——

After the New Year holiday, Yan Sikong returned to the Ministry of Personnel. As he expected, his colleagues who used to ignore him suddenly became much warmer towards him. They no longer assigned him those tedious and complicated clerical tasks, and when discussing the plans for the spring census, they didn’t exclude him either. Yan Sikong pretended to be overjoyed on the surface, but inside, he could only sneer.

At this time, Yan Sikong was quite prominent in the capital. None of the scholars who entered the Imperial Academy with him had left yet, while in just three years, he had taught the crown prince, suppressed rebellions, and entered the Ministry of Personnel. Now he had even become the provisional son-in-law, his fate had already changed drastically.

Therefore, although he came from a humble background, no one thought it was “unfair” for Wan Yang to marry him. However, the obstruction Feng Ye had made in the court had caused some dissatisfaction, as he seemed to be insulting all the scholars from humble origins.

The only advantage of this matter was that people thought he and Feng Ye were no longer on good terms. At banquets, many people, in order to please Yan Sikong, would condemn Feng Ye’s influence and look down on scholars from humble backgrounds. Yan Sikong felt uncomfortable inside, but he could only smile and use a sarcastic tone to say that the crown prince was not someone they could climb up to, which was met with some sarcastic agreement.

Since that day, Feng Ye had returned to the Jingshan Camp and did not stay in the capital after the New Year holiday. Apart from that, Yan Sikong had no idea what Feng Ye was up to now. It was as if their past had disappeared into thin air after that night, whether it was the experiences of love or life and death.

And Yan Sikong gradually picked up the pieces of his disappointment. He reminded himself that he had worked hard to get to where he was today and had no time to dwell on love and sorrow. Someday, Feng Ye would grow up too, and perhaps they would have a chance to reconcile. If that day came, he hoped he would still be alive.

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So many chapters have passed, and unexpectedly, it’s already the 100th chapter! ~~