The Blood Crown - Chapter 244

Back in his room, Yan Sikong took out the mask from his chest, a cold sweat spreading down his back.

 

What was he going to do with this? He had gone to find Yuan Nanyu to probe him, hoping that the two of them could persuade Feng Ye together, but once he understood Yuan Nanyu’s loyalty to Feng Ye, he knew that was impossible.

 

But taking this mask was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

 

Yan Sikong sat at the table, pulled the copper mirror closer, and gently placed the mask over his face.

 

The mask originally covered only the nose, and the exposed lips and jawline were nearly identical to Yuan Nanyu’s. In the past, some sharp-eyed people had noticed the resemblance between the two, but since no one had seen Yuan Nanyu’s face behind the mask, no one would have thought they looked so similar. With the mask on and changing into different clothes, he could pass as Feng Ye’s first general—“General Que.”

 

Yan Sikong removed the mask and slapped it on the table with a “pop,” as though it had burned his hands. After a moment, he carefully hid the mask.

 

He had always been cautious and meticulous, always planning ahead. The moment he saw this mask, he had secretly taken one, clearly preparing for unforeseen circumstances. Now that Feng Ye had become unpredictable, he could not afford to leave himself no way out.

 

Thinking of this, he felt discomfort arise. Was it possible, deep down, he believed Feng Ye might turn against him for the throne?

 

—

 

Feng Ye’s wedding day was approaching. The mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and the servants were busy preparing for the grand wedding. The large swathes of red contrasted with the cold, bleak white snow of winter, giving everything a festive air.

 

But to Yan Sikong’s eyes, it was blinding. The weather was cold, so he seldom went out.

 

Since winter began, thanks to the support of the Brave King, the soldiers had ample charcoal, thick cotton clothes, and meat every day. Winter was not a good time for battles, and this harsh weather was detrimental to everyone. If it were not necessary, wars rarely occurred in the winter. Therefore, the soldiers spent their days practicing, without worrying about hunger or danger. Even in the cold and exhaustion, no one complained.

 

As a result, the generals had a lot of free time, which gave Yan Sikong enough opportunity to lock himself in his room to think.

 

After calming down, he realized that the most urgent task now was not to persuade Feng Ye to abandon the idea of becoming emperor, but to figure out how to navigate the situation if Chen Mu and the court allied after spring came.

 

Since Feng Ye sent the invitation to Chen Mu, saying he would open the gates of Taiyuan to welcome Prince Chu, Chen Mu still had not responded. Looking at the timing, it was enough for the messenger to travel to Yongzhou and back. The fact that he had not responded clearly indicated Chen Mu was hesitating.

 

This hesitation was filled with dangerous uncertainty, like a stone hanging over his head, unsure when it would fall, making his heart anxious.

 

But regardless of whether Chen Mu would join forces with the court, Feng Ye had already decided to kill Chen Mu, and once Chen Mu became strong enough, he would no longer let them manipulate him. This person truly could not be used any longer.

 

There were still several young princes in the capital, even infants in swaddling clothes, who would be easier to control than Chen Mu. As long as Feng Ye did not insist on becoming emperor, he could still do what he intended, using the emperor to control the lords.

 

Although Feng Ye had deceived and used him, setting aside personal feelings—he no longer wanted to talk about that—Feng Ye remained the only person who could help him achieve his goal. The sadness, disappointment, and anger he felt were merely self-inflicted distress. If he had not been unable to control his emotions, why would he have suffered these things? Wasn’t it his fault?

 

People like him should never become emotionally attached. A life of solitude was the most appropriate ending.

 

Having thought this through, he didn’t wait for Feng Ye to come to him. He took the initiative to find Feng Ye, bringing something with him.

 

When Feng Ye saw him, he was slightly surprised but still pretended to be calm and asked, “Have you thought it through?”

 

Yan Sikong sat in the furthest chair from him, his attitude aloof but not servile. “I’ve thought it through.”

 

“Say it.”

 

“You were right. Chen Mu is no longer controllable and should not be supported. Moreover, he is likely to collude with the court. We must abandon him.”

 

Feng Ye showed a pleased expression. “If you think this way, I’m much relieved.”

 

“But…” Yan Sikong continued.

 

Feng Ye waited.

 

“But you must not claim the throne,” Yan Sikong said seriously. “I’ve made the pros and cons clear. If you insist on becoming emperor, you will kill me, and I won’t help you. There are still young princes in the capital who can be controlled.”

 

Feng Ye smiled lightly. “You don’t think I’m foolish enough to rush into making myself a target before I’ve even stabilized, do you? The things my uncle sent were just his way of expressing joy for my wedding, and you happened to find them. If I didn’t have at least seventy or eighty percent confidence, I would never act recklessly…”

 

“Even if you were one hundred percent sure, you still can’t,” Yan Sikong said sternly. “Whether you can or not, I will decide.”

 

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes.

 

“We must remove all internal and external threats and ensure we have complete control of the situation.”

 

“How long will that take?”

 

“I don’t know. Maybe ten years, twenty years, or even longer.”

 

Feng Ye snorted coldly. “This is a temporary measure.”

 

“It is a temporary measure, for me and for you. Do you think a coup doesn’t need ‘temporary measures’?”

 

“Then what if, after I take control of the capital, I change my mind? What will you do about it?”

 

Yan Sikong sneered coldly. “I’ve already considered that. After all, you deceived me.” He reached into his sleeve and took out something—a letter.

 

“What is this?”

 

Yan Sikong stood up, holding the letter with both hands, his attitude respectful—not towards Feng Ye, but towards the letter itself. “This thing, I’ve kept it hidden until now. One reason was that the timing wasn’t right, and the other was that I didn’t want to cause you sorrow.”

 

Feng Ye furrowed his brows. “What exactly is it?”

 

Yan Sikong stared at the yellowed envelope, a whirlwind of thoughts surging in his heart. “This… is a letter His Royal Highness, Prince Jingyuan, entrusted to me before he passed.”

 

Feng Ye slammed his hand on the table, his voice sharp. “Bastard, why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

 

“This final letter wasn’t left for you, but for the world,” Yan Sikong said. “His Royal Highness instructed me that on the day his injustice was cleared, this letter would be made public. The time isn’t right yet. If I show it to you now, it would only add to your sorrow and hatred.”

 

Feng Ye stormed over, snatched it from his hands, and, with trembling fingers, carefully unfolded it, glaring at the text.

 

Yan Sikong softly spoke from the side. “I’ve read this letter countless times, almost memorized it. The few lines about His Royal Highness’s grievances are sparse, but what he truly cared about was always the common people, always the peace at the borders, the tranquility of the realm. The Feng family has been loyal for generations. Are you really willing to disregard His Royal Highness’s last wish for your own selfish desires?”

 

“Shut up!” Feng Ye growled, turning to glare at Yan Sikong, his eyes reddening.

 

Yan Sikong fell silent.

 

Feng Ye’s voice trembled. “You should have given this to me sooner. This is the only thing my father left me.”

 

“That’s not entirely true.” Yan Sikong said. “His Royal Highness left you the Feng family army, rare generals, wisdom, and strategies. What he left you was meant to help you protect the country and the people. You mustn’t disappoint his hopes.”

 

“Don’t use my father to pressure me!” Feng Ye pointed at Yan Sikong, shouting, “My father never told me not to take the throne!”

 

“That’s true, but His Royal Highness valued the peace and prosperity of the nation above his own life,” Yan Sikong said, looking him in the eyes. “Feng Ye, you should also place the peace and prosperity of the country before your desire for power.”

 

Feng Ye’s muscles twitched as he spoke in a deep voice. “I will fulfill my father’s wishes, and when he looks down from heaven, he will see peace and tranquility.”

 

“If you have such a sense of responsibility, His Royal Highness can rest in peace.” Yan Sikong softened his tone. “Feng Ye, for now, put aside your ambition. If one day you have absolute power and the realm is stable, I won’t stop you anymore.”

 

Feng Ye lowered his head, his expression grim.

 

Yan Sikong knew Feng Ye’s filial piety. Only by using Feng Jianping could he temporarily suppress his arrogance.

 

After a long silence, Feng Ye said, “Fine, I’ll agree to you.”

 

“You don’t need to agree to me. I want you to agree to His Royal Highness, Prince Jingyuan.” Yan Sikong took a step closer.

 

Feng Ye stared at him. “With this letter as proof, I promise my father, that if the situation is unstable, I won’t take the throne.”

 

Yan Sikong sighed with relief. “I have one more thing to ask of you.”

 

“Speak.” Feng Ye’s voice was cold.

 

“Spare Chen Mu’s life,” Yan Sikong said softly.

 

Feng Ye raised an eyebrow and said viciously, “Not a chance.”

 

“Spare him, even if you have to strip him of his title.” Yan Sikong looked directly into Feng Ye’s eyes without fear. “After all, he is my student. As long as he no longer poses a threat to you…”

 

“His life is a threat to me.” Feng Ye said clearly, word by word.

 

Yan Sikong coldly replied, “If you want me to help you, this is my condition.”

 

Feng Ye moved closer to Yan Sikong, his gaze cold as ice. “You dare make demands of me? For Chen Mu?!”

 

“Why can’t I?” Yan Sikong stood tall, his chest out. “As you said, you hold great military power now. I’ve done much for you. You even said that I helped you secure Taiyuan. You promised me rewards after success, but all I want is for you to spare Chen Mu’s life after it’s all over.”

 

“Chen Mu…” Feng Ye gritted his teeth, his voice full of fury. “How many people in this world deserve your sincere treatment? Why is it Chen Mu? Why him?!”

 

Yan Sikong took a deep breath. “Chen Mu became my student when he was eleven. I watched him grow up. I know he suffered greatly in his youth, bullied and neglected. I accompanied him through the pain of losing his mother. I often saw myself in him when he was young. Whether you understand or not doesn’t matter. If you won’t agree, then don’t bother coming to me.”

 

“Are you threatening me?” Feng Ye grabbed Yan Sikong by the shoulder. “Do you know where you are right now? Everything about you, including your life, is in my hands. You should do whatever I say. Why are you making demands of me?”

 

“Then kill me!” Yan Sikong gritted his teeth. “I, Yan Sikong, have never feared death in my life.”

 

“You’re seeking death!” Feng Ye shouted angrily.

 

Yan Sikong held his ground, staring into Feng Ye’s eyes, not retreating an inch.

 

Breaking through the outer layer of affection, Yan Sikong could no longer find any reason to compromise with Feng Ye. He made up his mind not to talk about feelings anymore. When dealing with people, one must calculate the gains and losses. He would make Feng Ye understand how different his treatment of “Feng Ye” was from his treatment of the Wolf King.

 

Feng Ye seemed to sense Yan Sikong’s coldness. He slightly lowered his head and moved closer to him. “What am I to you?”

 

Yan Sikong didn’t hesitate to answer. “You are the Wolf King.”

 

Feng Ye’s face changed dramatically, his eyes sharp and fierce. “Wrong. I am your husband.”

 

Yan Sikong laughed bitterly. “In a few days, you’ll be the husband of the princess in name, recognized by everyone. Stop saying these meaningless things. You once said I used my feelings to confuse you, but since our reunion, have you not used your feelings to confuse me, making me serve you, plan for you?”

 

Feng Ye’s face twisted in a grimace.

 

“Feng Ye, we’ve come this far. Why deceive ourselves? What you want is supreme power, and what I want is to use your power to achieve my own goals. We are simply using each other.” Yan Sikong felt his heart bleed, yet he continued relentlessly. “Talking about feelings now is laughable!”

 

Feng Ye grabbed Yan Sikong’s collar, his handsome face contorted with rage, his eyes full of resentment. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse. “You’ve finally said it. What you want from me is power. I mean nothing to you!”

 

Yan Sikong didn’t speak, only giving a bitter smile.

 

Feng Ye pushed him away. “Leave. Get out.”

 

Yan Sikong staggered back a few steps.

 

“Leave!” Feng Ye shouted.

 

Yan Sikong turned and rushed out of the room, his heart feeling as though it were being torn apart, but he didn’t stop. He wanted to run as far as possible, hopefully to a place where he would never see Feng Ye again. Perhaps then, he could live a little better, at least without the constant heartache for one person.

 

—

 

Yan Sikong didn’t return to his room but wandered around the courtyard for a long time. Feng Ye had sent people to monitor him, and they had changed shifts. His hands and feet were numb from the cold, but he didn’t want to go back inside.

 

When the night fully fell, he gazed at the dim lights in the residence, unsure of where to go.

 

Just a short time ago, he had said that Feng Ye’s side was the only place he could return to in his life. Now, it seemed utterly ridiculous. How could he have been so foolish and naive?

 

He had no place to return to. He once had a home, two homes, but both were now gone, reduced to ashes. From now on, no matter how vast the world, Yan Sikong was destined to be alone.

 

No, wait—he still had one relative left. The only remaining family in this world, even though they shared no blood, even though the other person might not even remember him. But that person’s existence was the deepest, most profound bottom line in his heart, the only proof that heaven had not completely abandoned him.

 

He picked up two jugs of wine, deciding to find Yuan Nanyu. The enmity and grudges between him and Feng Ye had never been shared with anyone, and now, he wouldn’t complain to Yuan Nanyu either. He just wanted to have a drink with his brother. Perhaps, when he got Yuan Nanyu drunk, he could make him call him “Second Brother” again…

 

When he staggered into Yuan Nanyu’s courtyard, the light from inside flickered. He vaguely heard someone speaking inside. He instructed the person watching him to wait in place and walked to the door with the wine jug. Just as he was about to knock, he heard what seemed to be Feng Ye’s voice, and it was slurred with drunkenness. The scent of alcohol had already wafted outside, so there was no need to listen closely.

 

Yan Sikong hesitated and retreated to the window.

 

The Luo family was prestigious, and the window panes were made of extremely expensive glass. Yan Sikong bent down slightly and peered through the gap between the glass and the curtain.

 

Inside, there were two people—Yuan Nanyu and Feng Ye. The wine jugs and cups were overturned on the table, spilling alcohol and dishes everywhere, creating a chaotic mess. Feng Ye was holding Yuan Nanyu tightly, intimately.

 

Yan Sikong instantly felt the blood in his body freeze.

 

Then, he heard Feng Ye, though his words were slurred, call out without hesitation, “Kong’er…”

 

(noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo)

—

 

Sorry for not updating in the past few days due to some issues. It’s best to follow my Weibo; if there’s no update, I’ll let you know promptly. If there’s no notification, it means I’ll update no matter how late it is.