The Blood Crown - Chapter 210

To revitalize the Hexi region, Feng Ye relocated 100,000 people from Qianzhou, Da Tong, and other areas for reclamation. Taxes were halved for three years, and several of the best pastures were set aside specifically for horse breeding. The horses from Hexi were the best available in the Central Plains, almost comparable to those of the nomadic tribes.

With the opening of the Hexi market, this area, which had been stagnant for decades, finally began to show signs of recovery.

Feng Ye was simultaneously nurturing the people and recruiting soldiers. Not only did he consolidate the troops from Qianzhou, but he also recalled part of the Da Tong army that had been previously reduced by the court. He gradually assembled nearly 200,000 heavily armed soldiers, securing the northwest and looking down upon the world.

Of course, the court was not idle. They mobilized 360,000 soldiers from the Central Plains, Jiangnan, and Huguang, with a determination to suppress the rebellion as solid as a rock.

Winter was not suitable for battles, so everyone was biding their time. When the weather warmed up next year, a great war was destined to sweep across the land.

While everyone was busy, Yan Sikong received a letter from Chen Mu.

The letter expressed gratitude for Yan Sikong sending Shen Hexuan to Yunnan. Chen Mu had hosted Shen Hexuan well but had then sent him back to his hometown.

Yan Sikong was somewhat surprised but, upon reflection, admired Chen Mu’s depth of strategy. Shen Hexuan had attempted to escape twice on the way to Yunnan and had been caught both times. His journey to Yunnan was out of necessity, not willingly.

Chen Mu had generously sent away such a formidable strategist who might have been a future obstacle. This could be due to his previous irritation with Shen Hexuan’s nagging, or he might have suspected that Shen Hexuan was sent by Yan Sikong to counter him. It could also be an attempt to make Shen Hexuan owe him a favor. A talent like Shen Hexuan was rare and might prove useful in the future.

Chen Mu’s move of giving away a flower to present the Buddha left Yan Sikong quite displeased.

Letting Shen Hexuan go might lead to unforeseen troubles. If he had known this would be the outcome, perhaps he should have killed Shen Hexuan from the beginning. Yet, he had hesitated to act on his murderous thoughts at least three times, which could be considered his feminine compassion.

As the year drew to a close, Da Tong was covered in ice and snow. Yet, contrary to the harsh climate, the relationship between Yan Sikong and Feng Ye was gradually warming.

Since Xie Zhongren had confessed in the imperial prison, clearing Feng Ye’s doubts about Yan Sikong in the case of the Feng family, and since Yan Sikong had risked his life to negotiate with Chahar, resolving Feng Ye’s major concerns without a single battle, Feng Ye had ceased to be confrontational. They dined and slept together, appearing harmonious.

However, Yan Sikong knew that Feng Ye still guarded against him and did not grant him any real power. Despite this, their relationship was far better than the precarious one of the past.

Yan Sikong could never forget the various things Feng Ye had done or said after their reunion, but he couldn’t help but yearn for the warmth of the present. He understood that he and Feng Ye could never return to the past. The barriers between them would never fully dissolve, and they would each guard part of themselves, not daring to fully reciprocate. Yet, he didn’t yearn for more; working together with Feng Ye in peace was enough.

Even though he couldn’t suppress his nostalgia for the past’s simplicity and sweetness when facing Feng Ye, he knew that it was something he had willingly let go and could not retrieve.

One day, amidst heavy snowfall, an uninvited guest arrived at the mansion. Yan Sikong, hearing the doorman’s announcement, excitedly donned a thin coat and hurried out. From afar, he saw a tall figure standing in the courtyard, dressed in somewhat dirty, old clothes and thick mud-caked boots, clearly having traveled a long distance.

“Ah Li!” Yan Sikong called out.

The person in the courtyard turned around, and the weathered wrinkles on his face relaxed. His once-grim face was now filled with excitement as he knelt in the snow with a thud.

“Ah Li!” Yan Sikong’s eyes also welled up. He quickly went up to help Ah Li up and said with a trembling voice, “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Before leaving the capital, he had discussed with She Zhun and Ah Li that if they got wind of danger, Ah Li should be sent out of the capital as soon as possible. Otherwise, he would be caught up in the court’s wrath and might not even leave behind a whole corpse.

Ah Li nodded repeatedly, excitedly gesturing with his hands, tears welling up in his eyes.

Yan Sikong sighed, “You must have suffered a lot traveling from the capital to Da Tong.”

Ah Li shook his head vigorously, indicating: To see you again, even death would be without regret.

The servants of the mansion stood aside, both curious and fearful, watching this strong and oddly-featured man, unable to believe that the elegant Yan Sikong would have such a servant.

Yan Sikong patted Ah Li’s arm firmly: “From now on, we will never be separated.”

Ah Li wiped his tears.

“How is the family? Is the princess alright?”

When the princess was mentioned, Ah Li’s face showed difficulty. He gestured: The emperor had issued a decree to confiscate their property, and the princess and the little princess had been brought back to the palace. The princess harbors deep resentment toward you.

Yan Sikong sighed. He felt guilty about Wanyang and asked, “What about Duo’er’s status…”

Before Yan Sikong could finish, his peripheral vision caught sight of three beautiful young women in flower-patterned clothes being led in by the steward. They collided with Yan Sikong and the others, and both sides looked at each other in confusion.

The steward glanced at Ah Li with surprise at his appearance: “Lord Yan, who is this…”

“He is a servant who has been with me for over ten years and traveled a long way from the capital to join me.” Yan Sikong looked at the three women and asked, “Who are they?”

The steward fidgeted, rubbing his hands: “Oh, they are new maidservants.”

Yan Sikong raised an eyebrow: “Maidservants?” Such well-dressed, beautiful maidservants were only seen in the palace. The steward was clearly lying.

The steward stole a glance at Yan Sikong: “I’ll take them away…”

“Xue Bo,” Yan Sikong said, “Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

The steward sighed and said with difficulty, “Lord Yan, they are actually… they are gifts from General Feng to the Wolf King. At this time of year, you are usually reading in your room or practicing martial arts, so I didn’t expect…”

Yan Sikong stood frozen for a moment, suddenly feeling a chill run through him. He then remembered he was underdressed and shivered in the cold wind. He tightened his coat and said softly, “In that case, Xue Bo, you may go about your business.”

Gifts from General Feng to the Wolf King…

Yes, Feng Ye was already around twenty-five or twenty-six. If he were an ordinary nobleman, he would have already had a full household, with wives and concubines and several children. Yet Feng Ye had not even a single concubine.

Or rather, he was the concubine.

Feng Ye had once said he would remain unmarried for him, but youthful boasts had long since dissipated. He was no longer the Yan Sikong who could make Feng Ye act recklessly. Even if Feng Ye were to take a wife or concubine, what could he do? He himself had a wife and daughter…

Why… why did it have to be so painful?

What right did he have to feel this pain?

Yan Sikong turned to Ah Li and said, “Come, let’s go inside.”

“What are you doing?” A calm male voice came from behind. The voice was not loud but had the power to cut through the wind and snow instantly.

Yan Sikong turned around and saw Feng Ye approaching with the bear cloak he had hunted himself.

The steward shivered and said with trepidation, “Wolf King, this… General Feng has sent three more women.”

Feng Ye frowned and said impatiently, “Is it still not over?”

“General Feng ordered me to bring them to you. I had no choice but to bring them into the mansion. I couldn’t let them freeze outside, so I thought I would wait for the snow to stop before sending them away. I didn’t expect…”

The steward glanced cautiously at Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong’s expression was calm: “I heard Ah Li has arrived. Ah Li, meet the Wolf King.”

Ah Li quickly knelt before Feng Ye.

“It is no small feat that you survived to reach Da Tong,” Feng Ye said, gesturing for Ah Li to get up. At the same time, he draped the cloak over Yan Sikong’s shoulders and chided, “You shouldn’t have come out dressed like this.”

Yan Sikong tightened the warm and thick cloak, feeling much warmer: “Thank you, Wolf King.”

Feng Ye said to the steward, “Xue Bo, take them away and make sure they are sent off as soon as the snow stops.”

“Yes.” The steward walked a few steps but then hesitated, glancing at Feng Ye.

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes: “What else do you want to say?”

“If General Feng inquires, how should I… answer?”

“I will handle that with my uncle.”

“Understood.”

“Wait.”

“Ah.”

Feng Ye pointed to Ah Li: “Take this man downstairs, treat him well, and prepare a guest room for him in Yan Sikong’s residence.”

“Yes.”

Yan Sikong said, “Ah Li, you’ve had a long journey. Rest well.”

Ah Li bowed and followed the servants away.

Feng Ye put his arm around Yan Sikong’s shoulders: “You should go back inside as well.”

“I’m used to martial training; it won’t hurt to be cold for a while,” Yan Sikong said calmly.

“Who likes being cold?” Feng Ye insisted, pushing Yan Sikong inside.

Yan Sikong removed the cloak carefully and hung it up. He then asked casually, “Does General Feng often send you women?”

Feng Ye glanced at him: “My uncle has always criticized me for not marrying soon enough, fearing the Feng family’s lineage will end.”

Yan Sikong lowered his gaze: “General Feng is truly devoted and filial, considering the Feng family’s future.”

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes: “I don’t like women. I don’t want to marry someone who would be a hindrance. Or do you also think I should take a wife and concubines?”

Yan Sikong paused, then replied calmly, “The Wolf King should decide for himself.”

Feng Ye crossed his arms: “I just want to hear your opinion.”

Yan Sikong remained silent for a moment: “I think… General Feng is right.”

Feng Ye’s expression grew cold: “Do you mean I should marry and have children?”

Yan Sikong took a deep breath, his heart heavy, almost unable to speak. He didn’t wish for the Feng family to die out. He hoped for Feng Ye to have descendants and a flourishing family. But…

He increasingly understood how Feng Ye must have felt when he learned of Yan Sikong’s marriage to Wan Yang.

Seeing that Yan Sikong remained silent, Feng Ye said coldly: “What I do or don’t do is not for others to judge.”

Yan Sikong nodded heavily.

The war is about to begin. (End of Chapter)