GSY Chapter2

“Ah Zheng, is it really alright for us to come out like this?”

Fang Jing’s buttocks were still sore. He remembered Cen Yelan’s sixty lashes with the military baton. When has this spoiled Xiao Junwang ever suffered such hardship? He was also a little afraid of the cold-faced general as well.

Yuan Zheng glanced at him and said, “You are afraid?”

“…Who, who is afraid!” Fang Jing straightened his chest, accidentally pulled the wound on his buttocks, and took a breath. “This surname Cen is really not a human being, he is so bold that he even dared to hit me… he even dared to hit you, he is not afraid that we will kill him when we return!”

Yuan Zheng’s face was not good, and he sneered, “Sooner or later, he will cry and beg me.”

Yuan Zheng has always been favored, and he never thought that this time his emperor father would be willing to throw him here. He felt very depressed, and with Cen Yelan always suppressing him in every way too, Yuan Zheng felt uncomfortable all over and wished he could return to the capital right now.

Fang Jing sighed, “I hope my father and Lord Meng can plead for mercy in front of His Majesty and let us go back soon. I don’t want to stay in this broken place for even a moment.”

Yuan Zheng raised his eyes and saw the wide streets of Hancheng, with houses lined up one after another. It was completely different from the prosperous and luxurious capital. It was simple and unrestrained, with people bustling around, living in harmony and excitement.

Yuan Zheng looked at it, clenched the wine glass in his hand, and said nothing.

Fang Jing suddenly tilted his head, looked at Yuan Zheng, and approached him curiously: “Ah Zheng, why do you seem to be fine these past two days? Did Cen Yelan show mercy?”

Yuan Zheng looked at Fang Jing expressionlessly. Fang Jing smiled awkwardly and waved his hand: “I’m, I’m talking nonsense.”

Yuan Zheng impatiently drank up the wine in the glass in one gulp. They were in the best tavern in Hancheng, but it was just so-so in the eyes of this group of rich and powerful young men.

They were sitting in a private room, and there were faint voices outside the door. Yuan Zheng listened carefully and his face darkened. They were all praising Cen Yelan for his bravery. They said that there were countless girls in the northern border who wanted to marry Cen Yelan. If the general had not made it clear that he had no intention of getting married, they’re afraid that the threshold would have been trampled down by matchmakers already.

Fang Jing suddenly laughed and said to Yuan Zheng, “I remember something. Ten years ago, when Cen Yelan came to the capital, I heard that His Majesty wanted to keep him in the capital. People in the capital heard about it and wanted to establish a good relationship with him. There was a person… who was it—”

Yuan Zheng frowned. He was in the palace and had never heard of these rumors.

Another person responded, “I know, it’s King Qin.”

King Qin was Yuan Zheng’s uncle, a man of great romantic potential, with whom Yuan Zheng had some dealings with.

Fang Jing slapped his thigh. “That’s him. King Qin’s mansion has many beautiful concubines, and they are the most beautiful in Jingdu.” He said to Yuan Zheng, “At that time, King Qin invited him to a banquet, and Cen Yelan got drunk and stayed in King Qin’s mansion. A foreign concubine climbed onto his bed, and Cen Yelan woke up. I heard that his face turned pale, his clothes were in disarray, and he ran away without a care for his dignity.”

Yuan Zheng couldn’t imagine what Cen Yelan looked like and sneered, “Isn’t it just a woman? How could he be so scared? Is Cen Yelan not capable?”

Fang Jing said in a low voice, “Someone said so at the time, I don’t know if it’s true or not. Anyway, Cen Yelan has been adamant for so many years, beauty and money are equally bad to him, he is like a solid wall.”

Yuan Zheng said, “There is no such thing as a solid wall. People always have seven emotions and six desires¹The seven emotions and six desires refer to some psychological reactions that humans are born with., but they just don’t know how to deal with them.”

When they returned, the sun was setting, and they ran into Cen Yelan head-on.

Enemies often cross paths.

The noisy and laughing voices suddenly stopped and became quiet. Everyone stood in unison behind Yuan Zheng, and Fang Jing even took a half step back.

Cen Yelan glanced at him coldly. He was reeking of alcohol, he frowned slightly and was about to pass by him.

Yuan Zheng suddenly called out, “Cen Yelan.”

Cen Yelan stopped and turned his head, only to see the young prince staring at him and saying, “It seems that General Cen has been at the border for too long and has completely forgotten the laws and etiquette.”

Cen Yelan glanced at him twice, bowed indifferently, and said, ‘Your Highness the Seventh Prince’, and paused, and then said, “The city has been in turmoil recently, Your Highness should stay out of the mansion less.”

Yuan Zheng folded his arms and laughed, “Isn’t General Cen very powerful and majestic? But now he has let the villains enter the city.”

As soon as one leaves Hancheng, they will reach the vast northern border. Although there have been no major wars in recent years, but the northern Hu people have never stopped harassing the border, and they are still greedily eyeing the vast and rich land of Dayan.

Cen Yelan calmly said, “The general will investigate this matter thoroughly, Your Highness, don’t worry.”

Yuan Zheng stared at that damn face for a while, snorted coldly, and walked in. After they all left, Cen Yelan said to the deputy general beside him, “Prepare the horse.”

The deputy general couldn’t stand Yuan Zheng’s attempt to suppress their general and said, “He’s just a young man, showing off his power here. What does he know—”

Cen Yelan called out, “Qi Ming.”

Qi Ming shut up, pulled the horse brought by his subordinate to him, and said, “General, are you not angry?”

Cen Yelan said, “They are just a few young people without much experience. Why should I be mad?”

“The Hu people are making frequent moves. You should arrange for more people to secretly follow Yuan Zheng.”

“Yes, General.”

• 1
  The seven emotions and six desires refer to some psychological reactions that humans are born with.