The Blood Crown - Chapter 237

Yan Sikong suddenly felt his heart drop, as if it had fallen from a great height. The room was warm with burning charcoal, yet he felt as if he were standing naked in the middle of a bitter winter, his hair almost freezing stiff.

 

Feng Ye’s face was taut as he stared unblinkingly at Yan Sikong.

 

Yan Sikong stared blankly at Feng Ye. The two were only separated by a table, yet he suddenly found it hard to clearly see Feng Ye’s face. This face had completely shed its youthful softness, now sharp-edged and stern, making it feel unfamiliar. He opened his mouth and softly said, “Fine.” Then, he lowered his head and placed a bite of food into his mouth.

 

Feng Ye’s lips were pressed tightly together as he spoke in a deep voice, “I know you don’t want this, but I still have to marry and have children. If it weren’t for you letting Shen Hexuan go, we wouldn’t have been in this situation now.”

 

Yan Sikong gave a low hum in acknowledgment. These past few days, he had been able to sense Feng Ye’s anger. Indeed, if he hadn’t let Shen Hexuan go, there wouldn’t have been the defeat at Taiyuan, and they wouldn’t have wasted so much time and soldiers before finally taking the city. What’s worse, perhaps Feng Ye even blamed him for deliberately going to Yunnan to support Chen Mu.

 

But Feng Ye had not spoken of it, and yet, how could he, being so smart, not feel it? His bluntness today—was he venting his anger?

 

“Moreover… moreover, you’ve already married Wan Yang and have a daughter,” Feng Ye’s tone was tinged with suppressed urgency. It was unclear whether he was trying to convince Yan Sikong or himself.

 

Yan Sikong raised his head but did not look at Feng Ye. “The Wolf King is wise.”

 

Feng Ye snapped, “Don’t call me ‘Wolf King’ in that mocking tone!”

 

Yan Sikong took a deep breath and calmly said, “You want to marry, have children, and carry on the family line. When have I ever stopped you? There are three types of unfilial conduct, having no heirs is the greatest. You cannot fail your ancestors.”

 

Feng Ye clenched his fists. “…Right.”

 

“Then it’s settled.” Yan Sikong said. “By marrying the Brave King’s daughter now, you will strengthen yourself further. You need not fear Chen Mu’s betrayal. If you march into the capital one day, there are so many princes, you can pick one who listens to you. When I say you’re wise, it’s not mockery.”

 

Feng Ye gritted his teeth. “You’re being so agreeable. But why won’t you look at me?”

 

Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment before finally raising his eyes to look at Feng Ye. His gaze was calm and deep, like an elusive sea: “There’s just one thing I don’t understand.”

 

“Speak.”

 

“The Brave King surely didn’t just remember that he has a daughter, nor could he be unaware that you have concubines but no wife. When did he propose this marriage? Was it before we attacked Taiyuan?”

 

Feng Ye remained silent.

 

Yan Sikong nodded. “So you were worried I’d have second thoughts and have kept this from me?” He felt a chill in his heart, a discomfort that made it hard to breathe.

 

Feng Ye spoke in a low voice, “You’re overthinking. It was after we took Taiyuan that the Brave King made this proposal.”

 

Yan Sikong forced a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s good. You marrying and having children is a happy occasion. Why would I be unwilling? The Brave King’s daughter is a match for you, and you need his support. You can’t treat this the way you did with Saren. The wedding must be prepared quickly, before the Brave King gets wind of it and changes his mind.”

 

“I’ve already sent the engagement.” Feng Ye said coldly.

 

Yan Sikong felt a lump in his throat, his eyes dark and dull, his heart in turmoil. He lowered his voice and said, “Alright.” He stood up. “I have some matters to attend to. I’ll leave now.”

 

“Stop.” Feng Ye’s face darkened. “Will you… blame me?”

 

Yan Sikong stood still for a long time, then coldly replied, “Feng Ye, we are no longer naive. Romantic attachments have never weighed heavily on my heart. Whether you marry Saren or the princess, as long as it benefits you, I don’t care.”

 

“Yes.” Feng Ye’s sharp eyes were filled with resentment. “As long as I give you military power, as long as I help you get what you want, you don’t care, right?”

 

Yan Sikong sneered. He didn’t mean to laugh, but he truly found it laughable. “Here it comes again. Why is it that you’re the one marrying, yet you always blame me?”

 

“Because I hate seeing you act so indifferent!” Feng Ye shouted.

 

“Then what do you want from me? To beg you not to marry?” Yan Sikong continued to smile. “Would you agree?”

 

Feng Ye’s face muscles twitched, veins bulging on his forehead, clearly restraining something.

 

“You wouldn’t. And if I really did that, you’d question why I could marry Wan Yang.” Yan Sikong took a deep breath, his heart cold as though it might stop beating. “Feng Ye, being by your side means I’m always in trouble. If you really can’t get past this mental block, I’ll leave Taiyuan and go guard Qingyang for you.”

 

“You dare!” Feng Ye’s eyes turned red. “If you leave my side even for a step, I will never forgive you.”

 

Yan Sikong stared at Feng Ye, feeling nothing but exhaustion and helplessness. He weakly said, “It’s all up to the Wolf King.” He opened the door and stepped into the cold wind without looking back.

 

Feng Ye closed his eyes and slumped back in his chair. The Wolf King, who was always cold and commanding in front of others, now had a face full of sorrow.

 

—

 

In Taiyuan, preparations for Feng Ye’s wedding began.

 

The soldiers of the army were all extremely happy, for after all, Feng Ye was already twenty-seven. In most noble families, men begin to seek a spouse after reaching adulthood at fifteen, and should be married by sixteen or seventeen. Feng Ye had been without a wife for all these years, living with another man, sharing meals and sleeping together. If it weren’t for his high status, and the fact that only Feng Changyue dared speak to him, who knows how many rumors would have spread by now.

 

However, those unusual glances at Feng Ye were inescapable for Yan Sikong. The daughter of the Prince of Yong was not like Sa Ren. As the emperor’s appointed princess, she was Feng Ye’s legitimate wife. For the sake of the Prince of Yong, Feng Ye couldn’t possibly neglect the princess. In this case, could he continue to keep Yan Sikong in his bedroom?

 

No matter how great Yan Sikong’s wisdom or military achievements, his tarnished reputation made him unpopular, and many people were waiting to see his fall.

 

One day, Yuan Nanyu couldn’t help but come to find Yan Sikong. He started by changing the subject, talking about useless things for a while.

 

Yan Sikong, somewhat impatient, said, “If you have something to say, just say it. We’re brothers, no need for all this beating around the bush.”

 

Yuan Nanyu hesitated, saying, “The Wolf King is about to marry… are you… alright?”

 

“A man should marry, right? Who among men doesn’t marry? You’re the only one still single, not listening to anyone’s advice.” Yan Sikong complained. “Don’t you want someone to care for you, to leave a legacy?”

 

“Why are you bringing me into this?” Yuan Nanyu frowned. “Do you truly not care?”

 

“What is there to care about?” Yan Sikong said calmly. “My daughter is almost two years old, and you ask if the Wolf King is going to break the Feng family’s bloodline? It’s a strange question.”

 

Yuan Nanyu sighed. “Sikun, I really… don’t understand you two.”

 

“…If I don’t understand it, why are you probing so deeply?” Yan Sikong casually said. “However, what I said earlier is true. We’re the same age, and now you’re thirty-two, why haven’t you gotten married yet? If it weren’t for your connection with someone at the Hong Cui Tower in Qingyang, I’d start to suspect you had a preference for men.”

 

Yuan Nanyu forced a dry laugh. “You even know that.”

 

“I naturally know.” Yan Sikong sighed lightly. “I also know you wandered the jianghu in your youth, used to a life of uncertainty, and that settling down might feel like a constraint. But you can’t go on without leaving a successor.”

 

Yuan Nanyu shook his head. “Sikun, you don’t understand. I lost my memory. I don’t remember my ancestors, my birth parents, and I’ve become someone without roots. It’s like… I have no connection to this world, so I don’t feel the need to pass on my legacy or continue the family line.”

 

Yan Sikong felt a bitterness in his heart. If Yuan Mao knew about his two sons—one with little ambition and the other without roots—he would be heartbroken. He said, “So… you plan to go on like this?”

 

“I don’t know.” Yuan Nanyu scratched his head, then smiled. “Strangely, even though I’ve reached thirty, I still feel young. Maybe my mind isn’t mature yet. Right now, I only think about helping the Wolf King achieve greatness. Once that’s done, I can think about marriage. Besides, I haven’t met a woman who stirs my heart.”

 

Yan Sikong teased, “What about the girl from Hong Cui Tower…”

 

Yuan Nanyu laughed loudly. “Stop mocking me.”

 

Yan Sikong laughed along with him.

 

Seeing Yan Sikong smile, Yuan Nanyu’s expression softened slightly, and he sighed inwardly. He couldn’t help but urge, “Sikun, if something is bothering you, don’t hide it. You can always talk to me. Although we’re not blood-related, we’re so alike. Even though I’ve forgotten everything, in my heart, I truly regard you as my brother. Do you understand? I feel that you’re my only family.”

 

Yan Sikong felt deeply moved. He couldn’t help but remove Yuan Nanyu’s mask and took his hand. “In my heart, you are just like my own brother. Even in these chaotic times, I can reunite with you. Even after all the suffering, I feel that God still has some mercy on me.”

 

Yuan Nanyu firmly said, “You and I, brothers, will follow the Wolf King to achieve great deeds and have our names recorded in history.”

 

—

 

As the weather grew colder, Feng Ye’s wedding was set for the ninth day of the twelfth month. The officials in charge of internal affairs were busy preparing for it.

 

But Feng Ye and Yan Sikong were focused solely on training the army, stockpiling food, and gathering intelligence, leaving nothing to chance.

 

At this time, Shen Hexuan should have already arrived in Yongzhou, and if Chen Mu had sent Yan Sikong a reply, it would have already been on its way. Yan Sikong did not miss any small signs, pondering the intentions of various factions every day.

 

Since their conversation that day, which had been filled with hidden tension, the two had barely met again. Even when they did, it was with others, discussing matters of business.

 

Yan Sikong heard the servants in the household secretly mock him for “losing favor,” but he just smiled and ignored it.

 

One night, Feng Ye unexpectedly came to his study. With a stern face, he asked coldly, “Has there been any news from Yongzhou?”

 

“None yet. What about the court?” Yan Sikong responded without changing his expression, as if nothing had happened before.

 

“We’re looking into it, but it’s hard to get any concrete news.”

 

Yan Sikong nodded. “This is a major matter, it’s naturally highly confidential.”

 

Feng Ye stared directly at Yan Sikong. “Where is the bear cloak I gave you?”

 

“It’s just entered winter, it’s not that cold yet.” Yan Sikong felt the imposing figure of Feng Ye towering in his room, a pressure he couldn’t quite shake. To ease the tension, he asked, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Hun’er. With the cold weather, shouldn’t you bring your little wolves back to the mansion?”

 

“No need. Only after surviving the winter can they truly become wolves. Hun’er will take care of them.” Feng Ye’s eyes gleamed. “You miss them, I’ll take you to see them.”

 

“No need.” Yan Sikong quickly said, “I just need to know they’re well. There’s too much to do, I can’t get away. You’ve had a long day, Wolf King, you should rest early.”

 

Feng Ye furrowed his brow. “Are you trying to send me away?”

 

Yan Sikong didn’t speak.

 

“Even if I marry and take a concubine, you will always be mine. That will never change, understand?”

 

Yan Sikong took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and quietly replied, “Understood.”

 

Feng Ye took a few steps closer, reaching out to touch his face. Yan Sikong slightly turned his head away, and Feng Ye’s hand froze in mid-air.

 

Feng Ye suddenly pulled him into an embrace, holding him tightly.

 

Yan Sikong didn’t struggle; he was never one to waste energy.

 

Feng Ye whispered in his ear, each word deliberate, “You’re not allowed to reject me.”

 

“…I wouldn’t dare.”

 

Feng Ye’s eyes flashed with a fierce expression, and he pushed him away with force, sweeping his sleeves as he stormed off.

 

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I returned home yesterday and am trying to adjust my routine, but then I realized I’ll be going out again next week. A feeling of sorrow hit me…