The days spent defending the city are boring and tedious, and the harassing siege by the Hu people was extremely annoying. After they took two passes, they were blocked outside the defense line by the Northern Defense Army and could hardly move forward.
The tension between Cen Yelan and Yuan Zheng eased a lot.
Seeing Yuan Zheng taking up his sword and heading for the battlefield, the dandies did not dare to hide behind him and went forward one by one. Fortunately, they were all children of aristocratic families and had learned riding and shooting since childhood. After the trials of war, they seemed like different people, no longer the ones who were frightened to vomit by the flying blood and flesh on the battlefield at the beginning anymore.
Cen Yelan has always been cautious, and he always pays attention to every detail of military affairs, he has to personally check the city defense before he feels at ease. Yuan Zheng disagrees. He is the commander-in-chief. If he has to do everything himself, what would he have so many people under him for?
But Yuan Zheng understood why his uncle respected Cen Yelan so much. Even his emperor father said that the Cen family was the backbone of the country, so he let the Cen family take charge of hundreds of thousands of soldiers stationed in the northern border without any worries.
It snowed lightly that night, and Cen Yelan took a walk around the city. The houses near the city had all been turned into medical clinics, and the wounded soldiers were placed together for easy care. Even late at night, the military physicians were still busy inside and outside.
There was a room with candles on, and inside were some wounded soldiers. Cen Yelan approached and could faintly hear laughter coming from the room, mixed with a few clear voices.
Yuan Zheng and Fang Jing were both inside.
Charcoal fire was burning in the room, and a pot of hot water was set up, bubbling with white smoke. Several old soldiers were bragging about the battles they had fought on the northern border, from Cen Xi to the current Cen Yelan, and they were talking about it in a very exaggerated way.
Most members of the Cen family did not live long. The victorious general Cen Xi was only forty when he died for his country.
The Cen family built an ancestral temple in Hanzhou City. The rows of memorial tablets all belonged to members of the Cen family, and most of them died on the battlefield.
“That battle also took place outside the Beicang Pass.” An old soldier sighed, “General Cen Xi fought against Xuan Ge, the Hu people. The general was hit by an arrow that injured his lungs. He died within a few days.”
“The Young General was still young at that time, and he almost led his troops out of the city to take Xuan Ge’s head to commemorate the General.”
The young general he was talking about was Cen Yi. “But he was stopped by the little general and dragged back to the mansion.”
The veteran smiled and said, “Those brothers really have a good relationship.”
Cen Yelan listened and vaguely remembered the year his adoptive father died. Cen Yi had admired Cen Xi since he was a child and always called him little uncle. In the first two years after Cen Yelan was brought back by Cen Xi, Cen Yi was still young and quite hostile towards him. Later, the two brothers became closer, and even when Cen Xi gave the Northern Defense Army to Cen Yelan, Cen Yi did not say anything either.
Another person asked, “Seventh Young Master, you are from Jingdu. Is Jingdu really that good?”
Yuan Zheng smiled lazily and said, “It was alright.”
“I heard that Jingdu is very prosperous, and you can even smell the fragrance while walking.” One person said, with a hint of yearning in his tone.
Fang Jing asked, “What kind of fragrance?”
Several soldiers burst into laughter: “The fragrance of rouge and powder, the fragrance of wine.”
Yuan Zheng laughed, “That’s not the case, but the rouge from Wanbao Lou in Jingdu and the wine from Zuixian Ju are unmatched.”
“There are also singers and performers in the brothels.” Fang Jing patted his thigh. “They are both beautiful and talented. Don’t be fooled by their origins in folk brothels. Some of them are as beautiful as those in the palace.”
“Yo, Young Master Fang has also seen those in the palace.”
Fang Jing said in a low voice, “I heard it, it’s all heard.”
One person said, “After this battle, I want to go to Jingdu and buy my daughter the rouge from Wanbao Lou that the Seventh Young Master mentioned. She is fourteen years old this year and will soon be married.”
Fang Jing said, “Fine ah, when you come to Jingdu, just look for me. With me and Ah Zheng, you can get whatever you want. Is that right, Ah Zheng?”
Yuan Zheng said cheerfully, “Of course.”
Cen Yelan stood for a while, brushed the snow off his shoulders, and walked towards the city wall.
The winter night in the north was desolate and lonely. When the moon was full, it was like a huge jade plate hung in the sky, casting a cold silver glow. Cen Yelan placed one hand on the city wall. Beicang Pass had been built for a long time, and the wall was mottled and cold, but when one touched it, it felt sticky as if fresh blood had been splattered on it.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard behind him. Cen Yelan turned his head and saw Yuan Zheng was already standing beside him.
Yuan Zheng was not used to wearing heavy armor, and whenever he left the battlefield, he would wear ordinary brocade clothes with a black fur cloak draped over his shoulders. He looked noble and casual and inadvertently brought a bit of romance to this cruel battlefield.
Cen Yelan asked, “What is Your Highness doing here?”
Yuan Zheng snorted, leaning lazily against the wall, and said, “What is General Cen doing here on a snowy night?”
Cen Yelan glanced at him and said nothing.
Yuan Zheng knocked on the wall with his fingers and suddenly said, “The Hu people never fight for long when they invade the border because they can’t keep up with the subsequent supplies. This year, they are showing an attitude of wanting to fight us to the end. What happened to the Hu people’s royal court?”
Cen Yelan did not hide the truth from him and directly said, “There are many tribes of the Hu people, and they have always been governed separately until a year ago when Yan Le persuaded the tribes to form an alliance and march south.”
Yuan Zheng said, “No wonder they are so confident.”
Cen Yelan did not comment.
Yuan Zheng said thoughtfully, “I heard that Ke Han only has two sons, who are Shu Dan and Yan Le. Ke Han prefers Shu Dan, but Yan Le is more popular than Shu Dan. It seems that he wants Shu Dan to take this opportunity to make a contribution.”
Cen Yelan: “Yan Le is very ambitious. If he inherits the throne, I’m afraid the North will never be at peace.”
Not sure what Yuan Zheng was thinking of, he slowly said, “I think this Yan Le is very fond of General Cen, he has repeatedly urged General Cen to surrender to the enemy.”
Cen Yelan looked at Yuan Zheng expressionlessly and said indifferently, “What does Your Highness mean?”
“What can I mean by that?” Yuan Zheng smiled at him. Cen Yelan’s face was expressionless, but somehow, in Yuan Zheng’s eyes, it looked very lively. “But I want to remind you that a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. There are so many people in the court watching the Cen family. If the news of Yan Le’s behavior gets back to Jingdu, there will be people who will impeach you.”
Cen Yelan calmly said, “I am upright and honest, so why should I be afraid of being slandered?”
He looked at Yuan Zheng with a hint of mockery in his eyes, “It’s Your Highness, if we talk about trees standing out in the forest, who can compare to Your Highness the Seventh Prince?”
Yuan Zheng said indifferently, “I have already been sent here by my emperor father. It is a long way from the capital, and It’s not like I am a general who commands a large army either. Why should anyone keep an eye on me?”
Cen Yelan said, “Your Highness is a member of the royal family, and you will have to return to Jingdu sooner or later.”
Yuan Zheng looked at Cen Yelan, chuckled, and said, “General Cen, are you worried about me?”
His voice was low, and Cen Yelan subconsciously wanted to retreat, but Yuan Zheng had already grabbed his arm and came closer. The two squeezed between the battlements and exchanged a few moves in a moment. The cramped space made it impossible for Cen Yelan to move freely, and he was afraid of attracting the attention of the soldiers guarding the city as well, so he was cautious, but Yuan Zheng did whatever he wanted.
Their upper bodies were pressed together, their chests rising and falling slightly. Yuan Zheng raised his hand and touched the small mole under his right eye and whispered, “Cen Yelan, you have a mole here.”
“Do you know?”
Cen Yelan’s back was pressed against the parapet, and the fine snow fell on his face, which made Yuan Zheng’s fingers seem even hotter. He rubbed his eyes until they seemed to be hot. He endured it and scolded, “Yuan Zheng, get lost!”
Yuan Zheng pretended not to hear him and laughed again. He rubbed it with his thumb, which made Cen Yelan’s eyelashes tremble, tickling Yuan Zheng’s fingers, making Yuan Zheng’s heart itch, and he said to himself, “It looks very beautiful. It would surely look even better if cinnabar was added to it.”
