The Blood Crown - Chapter 35

Early summer was the season of frequent rains, but these rains were always light and drizzling, never bringing relief from the stifling, muggy air, which added to the annoyance.

Yan Sikong sat at the table, gazing at the evening mist and drizzle outside the window. His poetic inspiration was running high, yet there was no one to share it with.

Ally was the only servant in the household and had been with him for four to five years. He had encountered Ally during a trip through a small county during a time of a Yellow River flood. Ally was on the brink of starving but determined to sell himself to give his deceased parents a proper burial.

Ally didn’t have any outstanding qualities—at least, Yan Sikong hadn’t noticed anything special at first. He had taken Ally in because he saw someone who shared his hardships, someone who couldn’t speak or write but would provide safety. It was a split-second decision that led to buying him.

When he had crossed paths with Yuan Mao, it had also been due to Yuan Mao’s split-second decision, which set in motion many events. Perhaps it was all a matter of fate.

Later, Yan Sikong discovered that Ally’s name, “Ally,” was derived from his incredible strength. Despite his grotesque appearance, Ally was honest and obedient, never taking the initiative, making him a trustworthy servant.

Together with Ally, Yan Sikong had joined a rebel army, only to discover that it consisted of a ragtag group focused on plundering and killing, unlikely to achieve greatness. Thus, he had escaped once again, this time with Ally by his side.

He had traveled from Liaodong in the north all the way to the south, leaving his footprints across half of the vast kingdom’s lands. He knew that this dynasty was on its last legs, with no place offering safety. However, being at the center of this storm was the only source of comfort for him because he knew that every day brought him one step closer to liberation—whether his death or mine.

By midnight, the food had grown cold, and Yan Sikong called for Ally to reheat the dishes.

Without expressing anything, Ally turned and went to reheat the food, despite it being the second time tonight.

Yan Sikong remained calm and waited at the table.

Before the food was brought back, the window made a creaking sound, and a damp, sticky wind blew into the room. Yan Sikong put down the book in his hand and turned his head, saying, “Why didn’t you use the front door, Your Highness?”

“You only sent me two empty wine jugs, and you think that’s worthy of a visit?” Feng Ye tossed the two wine jugs to the ground, and they collided with a dull thud, yet there was no sound of broken glass.

Yan Sikong smiled faintly, rose from his seat, and greeted, “I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Feng Ye glanced at him, then ordered, “You better clean me up.”

Yan Sikong took a cloth and respectfully handed it to Feng Ye. Feng Ye haughtily extended his hand.

Yan Sikong smiled wryly and carefully wiped the light rain from Feng Ye’s head, face, and clothing. It seemed that Feng Ye’s imposing presence was partly due to his immense height, and standing next to him always felt oppressive.

Feng Ye lowered his head to look at Yan Sikong and asked, “What’s your intention?”

“Which aspect does Your Highness refer to?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Yan Sikong chuckled and said, “I believe Your Highness prefers not to associate with others, and you’d rather not let people know about our past connection. So, I used the empty wine jugs as an invitation. If Your Highness graces me with your presence, I will be honored, and if you choose not to come, I won’t be too embarrassed. Is that correct?”

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes as he looked at the tableware and utensils on the table and said, “I think you anticipated that I would come.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“Did you invite anyone else?”

“In these spring and summer rainy nights, if Your Highness doesn’t come, I’ll commune with sages and enjoy a solitary drink. It’s also a delightful pastime.”

As he continued to wipe, the door was pushed open. Feng Ye turned his head and saw a large, ugly, and burly man carrying a few dishes, staring at them blankly.

Yan Sikong said, “Ally, after you’re done, you can rest.”

Ally nodded, arranged the dishes on the table, and then retreated. He sneaked a few glances at Feng Ye.

Once Ally closed the door, Feng Ye furrowed his brow and asked, “Why did you hire such a servant?”

“What’s wrong with him?” Yan Sikong took a step back and made a gesture of invitation. “Your Highness, please take a seat.”

“If he has ill intentions, seeking your wealth, can you defeat him?”

Yan Sikong smiled and said, “I’m just a lowly seventh-rank compiler. I don’t have much wealth.”

Feng Ye thought for a moment and found it reasonable. “With this shabby house you live in, even a thief would avoid it.”

“That’s precisely why it’s peaceful.” Yan Sikong poured a drink for Feng Ye and said, “Allow me to offer a toast to Your Highness first.”

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong who drank alone and became even more uncertain about this person. His gaze was filled with scrutiny as he asked, “Why did you invite me here?”

“I…” Yan Sikong’s expression showed a touch of loneliness. “A few days ago, Lord Yan appointed me as the Crown Prince’s tutor.”

Feng Ye’s reaction didn’t change as he commented, “That’s a good thing.”

“Yes, and now, there are continuous invitations to banquets to celebrate my promotion. If it weren’t for being busy with historical revisions recently, I wouldn’t be able to avoid a single one.”

“In that case…”

“But I don’t have a single person I genuinely want to celebrate with,” Yan Sikong said with a faint smile, his eyes shimmering. “After much consideration, I could only think of Your Highness.”

Feng Ye was taken aback, and a sense of caution within him eased somewhat. He saw the slight tremor of Yan Sikong’s eyelashes and the dim look in his eyes. It was a kind of loneliness that pricked at him like a tiny thorn.

Feng Ye sighed and finally cracked a smile on his face. He poured a drink and said, “Very well, today, I’ll celebrate for you.” He raised his glass and said, “Congratulations, Lord Yan, on your promotion.”

Yan Sikong also raised his glass. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Recalling the previous time they had a drink together, Feng Ye felt somewhat dissatisfied. “Last time at my place, you left early. Today, you have nowhere to escape, so I must see you drink until you pass out.”

Yan Sikong teased, “Afraid that I won’t pass out, and Your Highness will pass out first.”

Feng Ye raised an eyebrow. “Today, let’s test each other’s drinking capacity to see who can hold their liquor.”

“I’m up for the challenge.”

The two engaged in a friendly drinking competition, and their enthusiasm quickly rose. However, Yan Sikong deliberately pretended to be slightly tipsy, while he remained sober. They chatted, “The other day, I went to the East Palace with my teacher to see the Crown Prince. Despite his young age, he has remarkable dignity. It seems that years of neglect haven’t extinguished his regal aura.”

“If he is a true dragon, then no amount of adversity can extinguish his auspicious aura,” Feng Ye sipped his drink. “But he’s still very young, and the Emperor is in the prime of his life. The future is uncertain.”

“The world is constantly changing, and even tomorrow’s affairs are uncertain,” Yan Sikong said. “Given the unpredictable situation, no one can protect themselves entirely. Does Your Highness plan to continue staying secluded at home and not venture out?”

“I’m thinking of asking His Majesty for a duty,” Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong. “What do you think I should do?”

Yan Sikong pondered, “His Majesty won’t assign you a prominent role, and if it’s a trivial position, it might not do justice to Your Highness. I can’t say for sure.”

Feng Ye took a sip of his drink gloomily. “That’s exactly it. The Deputy Commander of Shuntian Prefecture, Zhao Fuyi, is an old comrade of my father. I’ve decided to start there.”

Yan Sikong had guessed this already but maintained an understanding expression. He asked, “How many garrisons are there in and around the capital?”

“Only around thirty to forty thousand.”

“In that case, Your Highness won’t lack things to do,” Yan Sikong thought to himself. If not for General Jingyuan guarding Datong, the invasion of the Wala would have already put the Great Sheng in dire straits. He couldn’t say such a thing, of course, but Feng Ye could. Feng Ye snorted and said what everyone knew, “If it weren’t for my father holding the reins of power in Datong, the Great Sheng’s realm would have long been lost. His Majesty keeps sending those civil officials to meddle here and there. My father wanted to rebel. Did he really have to wait until now?”

Yan Sikong patted Feng Ye’s knee. “Let’s put a stop to such discussions here, in the midst of our drinking.”

Feng Ye was unimpressed, and a trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. “Now that my father has finally taken control of the military and political power in Datong, he leaves me trapped in the capital.”

“If not for this, how could His Majesty rest easy?” Yan Sikong gazed deeply into Feng Ye’s eyes. “Your Highness, this is not necessarily a bad thing. With you assisting General Jingyuan in the capital, it’s like adding wings to a tiger.”

Feng Ye squinted his eyes, appearing somewhat sober. “What do you mean?”

Yan Sikong smiled faintly and gave a slightly seductive look. “The first time we met, I already said that when General Jingyuan is not in the capital, if someone tries to harm him, it’s hard to defend oneself, isn’t it? Your Highness should stand on your own, strengthen yourself, and protect the stability of Datong, safeguarding the Central Plains.”

Feng Ye snorted. “Of course, I started serving in the military at eleven. I’ve never been afraid, whether it’s a visible blade or a hidden arrow. Whoever dares to harm my father, I’ll make sure they don’t walk away.”

Yan Sikong sighed inwardly. Feng Ye was still too young, his temperament too arrogant. It was clear that he hadn’t experienced setbacks, but Yan Sikong couldn’t tell if that was fortunate or unfortunate.

As the two continued to drink, the room became filled with the scent of alcohol, intoxicating them. Feng Ye became so drunk that he couldn’t sit still on the stool. His body seemed to be sliding down, and Yan Sikong hurriedly held him up. “Your Highness, allow me to assist you to rest.” He, too, was feeling the effects of alcohol, and he could barely support Feng Ye’s body, swaying slightly.

“I want… to keep drinking…” Feng Ye reached out for the wine jug.

Yan Sikong felt that Feng Ye was as heavy as a thousand catties. His legs trembled, and he wanted to call for Ally to help, but then remembered that he had told Ally to rest. He didn’t have the strength to carry Feng Ye to the guest room, so he could only staggeringly leave him on his bed.

As he stood up and was about to leave, Feng Ye suddenly grabbed his wrist with a strength that didn’t seem like that of a drunken person.

Feng Ye, with his hazy eyes, stared at Yan Sikong and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Your Highness, it’s time to rest.”

Feng Ye blinked and said, “Not… finished drinking, you dare run away. I’ll… I’ll have my brother bite you.”

Yan Sikong couldn’t help but smile but was too exhausted to laugh. He replied, “You still call it clever, but it’s just… well, an animal.”

“It’s naturally clever. When I tell it to bite someone, it’ll… it’ll bite that person.”

Yan Sikong tried to free his hand from Feng Ye’s grip, but Feng Ye was like a stubborn child competing with a filial son and held on tighter. “You’re not allowed to leave.”

Yan Sikong, feeling helpless, tried to pull his hand out, but Feng Ye suddenly exerted more force, pulling Yan Sikong onto the bed and causing him to hit the bedpost with his head. He cursed a couple of times, and Feng Ye burst into hearty laughter. “You dare run? Dare run?”

Yan Sikong struggled a few times but grew increasingly weak.

“No running,” Feng Ye said, embracing Yan Sikong and burying his face in his chest. He mumbled, “Sikong…”

Yan Sikong’s body tensed, and he seemed to recall the embrace from ten years ago when they said goodbye. Back then, he held a slender and fragile young boy, while now, this person had the hardness of iron, a true male, a battle-hardened general. Yan Sikong let out a sigh and contemplated the meaning behind Feng Ye calling his name. It felt like it wasn’t a call for him but a way to pierce through time, summoning the young boy from ten years ago.

“Feng Ye,” Yan Sikong whispered, and his body gradually relaxed. Despite their awkward and ungraceful position, their dizzy minds made them forget about decorum. Yan Sikong felt a warmth that he hadn’t experienced for a long time.

“You died, and I was so sad for a long time,” Feng Ye said, tightening his grip on Yan Sikong. “For a long time…”

Yan Sikong felt a sour sensation in his nose, and he remained silent for a long time.

The sound of even breathing filled his ears, and he closed his eyes. In that moment, he forgot about everything and simply wanted to enjoy this warmth and sleep soundly.