The Blood Crown - Chapter 203

Feng Ye’s hand slid down Yan Sikong’s back, his tone displeased. “Why have you gotten so thin? Doesn’t Chen Mu provide you with enough food?”

“It’s just the exhaustion of the journey.”

Feng Hun leisurely wagged his tail and came over, bumping his large head against both of their waists.

Feng Ye released Yan Sikong, who patted Feng Hun’s head. “Hun’er, you seem to have put on weight again.”

“The weather has turned cold, so he’s growing his fur.” Feng Ye fixed his gaze on Yan Sikong. “Why have you only just returned? I’ve been urging you to come back sooner.”

“The court dispatched Huo Li and Duke Xu as envoys to Yunnan. Haven’t you heard? I naturally needed to stay and keep an eye on Chen Mu to prevent him from wavering.”

“I heard about it. The idea to use sky lanterns to exterminate the bandits was also yours, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Yan Sikong’s thoughts suddenly drifted back several years to the Mid-Autumn night when he and Feng Ye had released sky lanterns together. He remembered the wish they made and felt a momentary daze.

“You gathered tens of thousands of soldiers and recruited talented individuals, transforming him from a useless prince into a true regional lord. Now, does he obey you as you wished?” Feng Ye’s tone turned cold when mentioning Chen Mu.

Yan Sikong considered his response carefully and said, “He’s twenty now and has his own ideas. He’s not as easy to control as he was when he was younger. Although he listens to me now, it’s mainly because he has no one else to rely on. I can’t let him become too powerful. Among his advisors, I’ve placed people I selected, and many of the soldiers in his camp have been bribed by Que Wang. He’s just a person; I can’t claim to control him completely, but at least he’s still under control for now.”

“The court plans to gather two hundred thousand troops to suppress the rebellion. Have you heard?”

Yan Sikong nodded. “He will surely seek my help when that time comes. That will be our moment to mobilize our troops.” He then asked, “What about Chahar?”

“I have my own methods.”

“What methods?”

Feng Ye turned his back. “We’re talking about Chen Mu. Why are you changing the subject?”

Yan Sikong frowned. “Aren’t we discussing important matters?”

“Chen Mu has taken a concubine who looks like you. Isn’t that an important matter?”

Yan Sikong showed no surprise. Feng Ye had sent thirteen people to follow him, and aside from Wu Liqi, who served him, the others were all trusted soldiers. Even if Yuan Nanyu hadn’t mentioned it, there would naturally be informants for Feng Ye. Yan Sikong replied without changing expression, “It isn’t.”

“It isn’t?” Feng Ye’s deep-set eyes narrowed, his anger apparent even without raising his voice. “Don’t tell me that while he is with a woman who resembles you, he is thinking of your past teacher-student relationship.”

Yan Sikong had thought that after being apart for over half a year and having been calm for long enough, they could at least talk peacefully, like before. It turned out he was deluding himself.

Seeing Yan Sikong’s silence, Feng Ye’s suppressed emotions surged violently within him, as if they might break free at any moment. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Does Chen Mu have feelings for you? If you dare to lie to me, I won’t send a single soldier to help him, even if he dies.”

Yan Sikong lowered his long eyelashes and said calmly：“Yes.”

Feng Ye’s expression twisted, as if someone had touched his Achilles’ heel. He seemed on the verge of erupting and tearing the intruder apart. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and said, “I noticed his unusual attitude toward you during the spring hunt. I thought I was being overly suspicious. If I hadn’t known, were you planning to keep it from me forever, just like all the other matters before?”

Yan Sikong looked up at Feng Ye. “What would you have me do?”

“What would I have you do?” Feng Ye’s eyes were fierce. “Should I risk the destruction of my family and a lasting disgrace to rebel, force a palace coup, put Chen Mu on the throne, and then hand over the country and you to him?”

Yan Sikong’s face lost all color. “You know well that everything I do is to allow you to leverage the emperor to control the lords! Now you want to accuse me of new crimes, even before they have happened?”

Feng Ye’s lips quivered, but he said nothing.

Yan Sikong, in a low voice, added, “Since we’re talking about the spring hunt, with the Wolf King stationed in Datong and spies everywhere, surely you’ve heard that Xie Zhongren has confessed to framing Prince Jingyuan in prison. If you haven’t heard, I still have the confidential report from She Zhun. Without mentioning other matters, can I clear my name on this?”

Feng Ye’s expression showed a hint of being moved. He said, “I already know.”

“Even though this wasn’t my doing, I still deceived you, exploited you, married Princess Wanyang, and impersonated your Yan Sikong. So whatever I say or do could be seen as a scheme, right?” Yan Sikong pressed aggressively.

Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong, hesitated for a while, and finally said stiffly, “Yes.”

Yan Sikong gave a bitter smile. “In that case, it’s no wonder the Wolf King is so suspicious of me. And don’t blame me for not wanting to return.”

This statement infuriated Feng Ye. “So you’re willing to stay by Chen Mu’s side, are you?”

Yan Sikong remained silent. Despite his anger, he was still rational and never wished to provoke Feng Ye actively. But he couldn’t extinguish the ever-present hostility from Feng Ye.

In Feng Ye’s eyes, everything Yan Sikong did was wrong.

Feng Ye grabbed his wrist and said coldly, “Whether you want to come back or not, you must return. You are mine. Do you know how much I wanted to kill Chen Mu when I heard about that concubine?”

Yan Sikong replied gravely, “He has not overstepped his bounds.”

“I won’t allow anyone to covet what belongs to me, even just in thought.” Feng Ye’s gaze was fixed on Yan Sikong’s weary face. “What has he said to you? What has he done?”

Yan Sikong responded calmly, “As I said, he has not overstepped. It’s merely youthful admiration, not to be taken seriously.”

“Youthful admiration?” Feng Ye sneered. “I also had youthful admiration for you back then. And what happened? You have the ability to charm people, but someone as shameless as you, who would bend to my will for the sake of the Feng family’s power, wouldn’t hesitate to serve him for power, would you?”

Yan Sikong’s heart ached, and he struggled to maintain his composure. His eyes reddened, filled with humiliation and sorrow, as he stared at Feng Ye in silence.

Seeing the countless grievances and hidden pain in Yan Sikong’s expression, Feng Ye froze.

Yan Sikong trembled as he spoke. “Feng Ye, I have wronged many people in my life, especially myself, but I’ve been most honest with you. If you can’t trust me at all, then why keep me around to torture each other? It would be better to kill me.”

Yan Sikong’s pale, lifeless eyes pierced Feng Ye’s heart like a blade. He couldn’t bear to look at them and had repeatedly told himself not to trust this person, yet he couldn’t help but be moved. He averted his gaze awkwardly. “I… I need you to tell me clearly, did you and Chen Mu have nothing between you?”

“What use is it for me to say anything if you don’t believe a word I say?” Yan Sikong retorted with scorn. “Why deceive yourself?”

“You…” Feng Ye’s spies had been keeping an eye on Yan Sikong, and he knew the two were innocent. Yet he couldn’t suppress his overwhelming jealousy. Yan Sikong’s pale face deeply disturbed him. He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself, and then spoke in a subdued tone. “I misunderstood you regarding my father’s matter. I originally wanted to… be better to you, as you said, to join forces to achieve great things. Why did you have to provoke Chen Mu?”

“If I could control people’s hearts, why would I end up in this situation?” Yan Sikong stared blankly ahead. “Chen Mu is still under control for now. Whether he is used or not is up to the Wolf King.” With that, he turned to leave.

Feng Ye grabbed him, pulling him into an embrace and whispered, “Who allowed you to leave?”

Yan Sikong remained silent.

Feng Ye pressed his face against Yan Sikong’s cold cheek. “As long as you no longer pursue Chen Mu and remain devoted to me, I can forget the past.”

“… Thank you for your grace, Wolf King.”

Feng Ye tightened his arms, as if afraid Yan Sikong might disappear. “I won’t concern myself with who you really are. I only want you to smile at me like you used to.”

Yan Sikong whispered, “We can’t go back to the past.”

“I don’t want that past where you toyed with me, because I’m no longer the posturing heir of Jingyuan. I want your complete submission, your body and heart, every fiber of you, to belong solely to me.” Feng Ye’s voice was filled with fervent ambition as he spoke near Yan Sikong’s ear. “Do you know what humiliated me most back then? It was not being able to give you what you wanted and being abandoned by you. But now I am the King of the Northwest(King of Zhenbei/King Zhenbei). I will soon have an army of two hundred thousand, and I aim to seize the Central Plains. I want you to rely on no one but me.”

Yan Sikong felt himself bound by an immense force. He dared not move or make a sound, feeling as if he were held by a dominion rather than a person, causing him to shiver violently.

“As for Chen Mu, he better not dare overstep. He better keep his thoughts buried forever, or I’ll surely take his life!” Feng Ye’s expression turned feral. “Xi’er is my cousin. Out of familial respect, I allowed her to keep the Yan family’s legacy. But beyond that, you can only belong to me.”

Yan Sikong closed his eyes, uncertain whether Feng Ye’s terrifying obsession still held a trace of affection or was purely for revenge.

Feng Ye spoke softly, “Go freshen up. I’ll wait for you for dinner. From now on, you’ll stay in the palace.”