AFDPIRAB Chapter62

Yan Muning stood in front of the study room of Jiayue Pavilion for about half an incense stick of time, but he was unable to push open the door.

 

It was too difficult.

 

He lowered his eyes and looked at the note in his hand again. Yuchi’s handwriting was flying, and every stroke revealed his passionate and innocent heart.

 

Even Yuchi Zhao had such thoughts, so how could Yun Jiangli not want to fight for his country?

 

Yan Muning took back his hand that was still holding the door frame, turned around, and walked quickly back to the bedroom.

 

“Shiyi, go prepare the carriage. Go out through the side door, don’t alarm anyone, I want to go to the palace.” Yan Muning gave the order while changing his clothes.

 

The little prince changed into a heavy silver-gray robe, tied up his long hair, put on a cloak, and quietly left the mansion with the hood on.

 

.

 

The emperor was standing by the window of Ruiyang Palace, looking at the heavy snow and thinking about the current situation, when he heard Eunuch Li report: “Your Majesty, Prince An has come to the palace and requested an audience.”

 

“Let him in quickly.”

 

The emperor frowned and took a few steps outside, ready to welcome him.

 

As soon as he turned the door curtain in the inner room, he saw Yan Muning, with a slightly clumsy belly, walking towards him with firm steps.

 

“It’s snowing so heavily today, why did you come out?” the emperor complained.

 

The two brothers entered the hall, and the emperor sat behind the desk, motioning the little prince to sit down as well.

 

But Yan Muning stood in the hall and saluted in a proper manner: “Your Majesty, Chendi came here today in the snow to ask for a favor.”

 

Hearing this, the emperor’s face immediately turned cold, and his eyes narrowed slightly: “Did Yun Jiangli ask you to come?”

 

“He didn’t know I came to the palace.” Yan Muning answered truthfully.

 

“What if Zhen doesn’t allow it?”

 

The emperor showed a slight displeasure on his face.

 

Yan Muning raised his head and asked, “Does Your Majesty know what Chendi is going to ask for?”

 

The emperor smiled slightly and said, “Heh, you all came one by one. Just now, Yuchi Zhao came and begged Zhen for permission to go to the northern border. Then you came. If Zhen can’t even guess this, Zhen would be unworthy of being your brother.”

 

“Since…”

 

Yan Muning just opened his mouth and was interrupted by the emperor.

 

“Lao Qi! Don’t make things difficult for Zhen.”

 

The emperor frowned, “Have you asked Yun Jiangli?”

 

Yan Muning hung his head. “No.”

 

The emperor was so angry at his words that he wanted to crack open his youngest brother’s head to see what was inside.

 

“Are you trying to piss Zhen off to death? Yun Jiangli didn’t even say anything. what are you doing here?”

 

“Imperial Brother, let me ask you, if Fifth Brother doesn’t lead the army to the north, are there any other people available?”

 

Yan Muning stared at the emperor seriously and stubbornly. “Which one of the generals of the Yingzhou Army, Wei Yuanshu, Lingnan Army, Zhen Ge, Linyang Army, Zhao Li, and Chonglin Army, Ye Suyu, can be transferred?”

 

“Not to mention the rest, they are all young and have never experienced war, let alone the ability to lead a large army.”

 

Yan Muning spoke clearly and logically.

 

Every word he said was about what the emperor was worried about.

 

Originally, several veterans of Dasheng who had fought on the battlefield were now old or dead.

 

Among the princes of this generation, except for the Yuchi family in the western border and the Wu family in the northern border, no other generals have been trained.

 

If there is still time, no matter which of the four generals is transferred, perhaps the military affairs can be smoothly handed over, and then the army can be led to the northern expedition.

 

But the current situation in the north does not give them such an opportunity.

 

If Prince Cheng leads his troops to the north, not to mention finding a capable general to take over the defense of the entire capital and the palace, even the complicated handover of affairs cannot be handled either in a short time.

 

Seeing that the emperor was silent, Yan Muning continued, “Imperial Brother, if I were not pregnant at this time, I would have led the troops to the north, right?”

 

The emperor nodded.

 

Although Prince An looks like a lazy little prince, but he has actually been with the Emperor and Prince Cheng since he was young and has been personally taught by the Imperial Preceptor. He cannot be said to be a master of both civil and military skills, but he is definitely someone who can be entrusted with important tasks.

 

“If I lead the troops to war, I will definitely need a military advisor to accompany me if I don’t have enough experience, and that person must be Yun Jiangli, right?”

 

Yan Muning continued to analyze.

 

The emperor glanced at him and said, “Stop talking nonsense with Zhen.”

 

The little prince pursed his lips and continued from a different angle: “Imperial Brother just asked me if I had asked Yun Jiangli about his opinion before I came. Then I only want to ask Imperial Brother, if he is someone who is unwilling to take the responsibility at this time, will you still let me marry him as my princess consort?”

 

The emperor lowered his eyes and sighed.

 

“Yun Jiangli is a man with a broad mind. I have experienced the pox epidemic in Jinzhou with him. He has saved my life and the lives of countless others. He is a physician and a capable person. Should he be restrained because of me?”

 

Yan Muning asked.

 

“Before I entered the palace, Yun Jiangli had locked himself in the study for several hours after hearing what happened in Linhua Palace today. I know he is troubled, so how could I force him to make such a choice?”

 

The little prince said seriously, “So I came here to make the choice for him. I hope Imperial Brother will support me.”

 

The emperor was already a little shaken: “But you are pregnant…”

 

“Isn’t the Old Hall Master still in my mansion? Isn’t he more experienced than Yun Jiangli? Besides, I’m not going to deliver until mid-May.”

 

Yan Muning smiled proudly and said, “By then, they will all return victoriously!”

 

“Let Zhen think about it…”

 

The emperor was usually very decisive, but when it came to his youngest brother, he would be somewhat emotionally trapped and always hesitate.

 

When Yan Muning got stubborn, no one could stop him. He could not allow his existence to affect his brother and his lover from making the right choice.

 

If they made a choice because of their love for him and were criticized by the world, he would not be able to rest easy.

 

The little prince knelt straight in front of the emperor and said in a sonorous voice, “As the son of the royal family, Muning is already responsible for not being able to fight for the country. Chendi hopes that Imperial Brother will put aside his worries and approve my request today.”

 

The emperor strode around the desk and pulled Yan Muning’s arm: “What are you doing? Get up!”

 

Yan Muning did not move and repeated stubbornly, “Your Majesty, please approve Chendi’s request!”

 

“Approved, approved!”

 

The emperor was both angry and anxious: “Lao Qi, you are a heartless bastard! Who was Zhen doing this for? You come here and do this, and it seems that Zhen was the one to blame!”

 

The little prince heard the two words “approved”, and then he supported the emperor’s hand and stood up slowly.

 

“Imperial Brother’s words are as good as gold!”

 

Yan Muning smiled like a little fox and hugged the emperor’s arm to act coquettishly.

 

The emperor was so angry, but he could only glare at Yan Muning fiercely.

 

Yan Muning sat down next to him in a flattering manner: “Second Brother, this important matter has been settled, don’t be so sullen!”

 

“Get lost, get lost, get lost. Now you remember you have a second brother?”

 

The emperor was very angry and kept cursing, but he still let him lean on his shoulder.

 

“Second Brother.”

 

The little prince put away his serious expression and returned to his usual soft look, saying coquettishly, “Every word I just said was carefully considered. Even Ah Zhao is going to join the army, but I can’t. Do you know how sad I am?”

 

“Zhen knows.”

 

The emperor gently patted his youngest brother’s back to comfort him, just like he did when he was young.

 

“It’s fine if I can’t go myself, but I don’t want Imperial Brother and Yun Jiangli to still have to worry about me. Aren’t I guilty of a serious crime then?”

 

The little prince raised his head and blinked at the emperor.

 

The emperor’s heart softened at his words.

 

“Come, come, come, I’ll let you rub. The child may be exhausted.” The little prince sat up straighter and took the emperor’s hand and placed it on his round belly.

 

“When they return triumphantly and the child is born, can Imperial Brother give him a name?”

 

The emperor felt the warmth from his nephew through the soft fabric of the little prince’s clothes and said with a smile, “It is natural to confer a title. Now, think about how to convince your princess consort when you return!”

 

.

 

It was already dark when he returned to the mansion.

 

As soon as Yan Muning got off the carriage, he saw Yun Jiangli hurriedly walking out of the gate and called him: “Ah Li!”

 

Yun Jiangli was startled and stepped forward quickly: “Where have you been!”

 

“Are you going to look for me, Ah Li?”

 

Yan Muning held the person’s hand and tilted his head.

 

Yun Jiangli frowned and nodded, looking the youth up and down. Seeing that the person in front of him was fine, he finally let go of his worries.

 

The little prince raised his hands, opened them to Yun Jiangli, and started to act coquettishly: “I’m tired, I want you to carry me back!”

 

One has to know that when the little prince is outside, he never takes the initiative to make such intimate requests.

 

Yun Jiangli knew that the youth’s behavior was not normal, but he did not say much. He just followed the youth, picked him up steadily, and walked towards the backyard slowly.

 

“It’s snowing so heavily, why did you run out by yourself?” Yun Jiangli asked with some concern.

 

The little prince leaned his head on the big beauty’s shoulder and whispered, “You have been in the study, so I didn’t bother you.”

 

Neither of them said anything.

 

As night fell, snowflakes continued to fall slowly.

 

The servants of the mansion were diligent, and soon after they had swept the ground, a layer of snow had accumulated on the ground again. As Yun Jiangli walked, the “crunching” sound of stepping on the snow echoed in the quiet palace.

 

“Go to the bedroom or the warm pavilion?”

 

Yun Jiangli spoke softly, as if he couldn’t bear to disturb this quiet moment.

 

The little prince closed his eyes slightly, leaning on the big beauty’s arms and shaking his head, “No, let’s go directly to the study room of Jiayue Pavilion.”

 

Yun Jiang paused for a moment but did not ask any more questions and went straight in the direction of Jiayue Pavilion.

 

.

 

“Are you hungry? Do you want me to call Lao Qi to get you some snacks?”

 

After entering the study, Yun Jiangli closed the door and checked whether the charcoal fire in the stove was still burning or not. Then he asked while untying the belt of the little prince’s cloak.

 

After taking off the cloak, the little prince came to Yun Jiangli’s desk and lowered his head to look at the half-written paper that had not been put away.

 

Yun Jiangli’s handwriting is vigorous and powerful. If the handwriting is like the person, then the big beauty’s handwriting is more majestic and unrestrained than his absolutely beautiful appearance.

 

“Ah Li, are you writing about what to do in… the war?”

 

The little prince frowned and looked up at Yun Jiangli.

 

After shaking off the remaining snow on the little prince’s cloak and hanging it on the hanger, Yun Jiangli turned around and replied calmly, “Yes, they should be able to use it when they march north. I have made some superficial analysis, hoping that I can help them a little.”

 

Yan Muning’s expression turned cold: “They?”

 

The little prince did not wait for Yun Jiangli to answer and continued to ask, “Young Hall Master locked himself in this study for several hours and finally just made such a decision?”

 

Yun Jiangli looked at the youth without saying anything.

 

Compared to the slight anger that Yan Muning was showing at the moment, Yun Jiangli was extremely calm, even indifferent and expressionless.

 

“Didn’t you ask me where I went?”

 

Yan Muning’s tone became much more aggressive, and he stopped beating around the bush and said directly, “I went to the palace.”

 

Only when Yun Jiangli heard this did his expression suddenly change.

 

The little prince didn’t even give him a chance to speak: “I went to ask Imperial Brother to send you to the northern border.”

 

“Xiao Qi!”

 

Yun Jiangli interrupted him anxiously, “I won’t go.”

 

“Yun Jiangli!”

 

Yan Muning lost his temper and raised his voice a little: “If you can really be so decisive, why did you lock yourself in this room for so long, and why did you bother to write these things!”

 

The little prince picked up the half-written paper on the desk and angrily said to Yun Jiangli.

 

Yun Jiangli was also a little annoyed: “Then what choice does Wangye want me to make? Just ignore my pregnant partner?”

 

He choked up as he spoke, and the corners of his eyes turned red.

 

He took a step closer, stood in front of the youth, took his hand, and covered his left chest, looking down at him: “Xiao Qi, I only have you here now. Nothing else is more important than you, do you understand?”

 

The little prince’s eyes also turned red, and he took the big beauty’s hand and put it on his belly: “So, are you going to give up the righteousness in your heart for me and the child?”

 

“Do you know why I made this decision…”

 

Yun Jiangli rarely lost his composure, and his voice trembled slightly.

 

Yan Muning also took a step forward, hugged Yun Jiangli on tiptoe, rested his chin on his shoulder, and said softly, “I know. So I made the decision for you.”

 

“Xiao Qi, how can I feel at ease?”

 

Yun Jiangli hugged the youth tightly, as if he wanted to rub him into his own flesh and blood.

 

“My Ah Li, when have you become so timid?”

 

The little prince could clearly feel the deep entanglement and anxiety of his lover, and he smiled and comforted him with a casual smile: “What are you worried about? Hmm? Isn’t the Old Hall Master here? If you don’t trust him like this, I will go to the Old Hall Master to complain.”

 

After the voice fell, the two of them tacitly did not speak again. They just hugged each other quietly, feeling each other’s heartbeat and breathing.

 

Yun Jiangli quickly calmed down and regained his composure under the comfort of his lover. He sat on a chair holding the person and asked, “Do you know that if I go there, it will take at least two or three months?”

 

“I know.”

 

Yan Muning lost his strength and sat in the big beauty’s arms, grabbed his hair, and played with it on his fingertips as usual: “Didn’t you just say that I wouldn’t give birth until mid-May a few days ago?”

 

The little prince suddenly laughed, thinking of something: “My Ah Li is the best military advisor. If you care about me and the child, you should use your brain and beat those villains back to their nest as soon as possible. Maybe you can return triumphantly in a month?”

 

Yun Jiangli looked at the youth in his arms and listened to his comfort. He felt more and more reluctant to let him go, and he also felt more and more cherishing of him.

 

His youth was smart and sharp, kind-hearted but strong.

 

There is no other youth as good as him in this big world.

 

Yun Jiangli suddenly felt relieved. He was narrow-minded and could not compare with the youth’s insight.

 

He calmed down and asked with a smile, “How do you know I would want to go? Aren’t you afraid that I just don’t want to go?”

 

“Tsk—”

 

The little prince raised his eyes and curled his lips, “Because you are my princess consort and the father of my child. Just as you know my feelings, how can I not know what you are thinking?”

 

The little prince paused and then muttered softly, “Unless I am blind and have seen you wrongly…”

 

Yun Jiangli helplessly stretched out two fingers and pinched the unforgiving little mouth.

 

“Xiao Qi, thank you.” He said as he stared at the youth seriously.

 

The little prince pulled away the hand that was pinching his mouth and looked back at Yun Jiangli seriously.

 

“I am your Xiao Qi, and also the Prince An of Dasheng. If I were not pregnant, I would definitely fight alongside you.”

 

Yan Muning took Yun Jiangli’s hand and overlapped them on his round belly.

 

“But right now, I have to take good care of myself, the child, and our little family. Then please take my share with you to the North to fight for the country.”