GSY Chapter88

Peaceful days passed quickly. Cen Yelan had been in the military for half his life and never dared to slack off. He never thought that one day he would be away from the North for such a long time. The capital was prosperous, and the scenery was different from the North. Cen Yelan was not used to it at first. When he woke up in the morning and he opened his eyes, he thought that he was in the North, but when he opened the door and the morning breeze blew into his nose did he immediately woke up.

 

The wind in the capital is warm and gentle, unlike the dry, cold, and sandy wind in the North.

 

Yuan Zheng knew that he was worried about the North, so he ordered his men to deliver official documents from the North to the capital every few days. In fact, Cen Yelan has accumulated prestige for a long time, and there are many talented generals available. Even if he is not in the North, the North will not be in chaos either.

 

Yuan Zheng laughed at him, saying that he was more worried than he, the emperor, and told him to let himself go. He was not worried at all. Even if the sky fell, he, the emperor, would support it. He should worry less and focus on taking care of his pregnancy.

 

Just rest assured and take care of the child. These four words made Cen Yelan feel both ashamed and speechless.

 

Yuan Zheng leaned over again, kissed his lips, and said, ‘My general ah, don’t you want to see the vast territory you have guarded for so many years?’

 

Yuan Zheng spoke very gently. Cen Yelan was stunned for a moment, then lowered his eyes and smiled silently.

 

Yuan Zheng was already an emperor, and when he had some free time, he would take Cen Yelan on a secret tour in the capital. He was once a top-notch dandy here, and no one knew better than him on what to eat and what to do in the capital. Cen Yelan had never lived such a leisurely life, as if time had slowed down, relaxed, and become colorful and lively.

 

Yuan Zheng and Cen Yelan also went to see Fang Jing together. When Fang Jing returned to the capital that day, he broke three ribs and suffered internal injuries. Fortunately, Meng Fuxue arrived in time when he was on the verge of death.

 

A few months passed, and when he recovered, Yuan Zheng had already ascended the throne as the emperor.

 

Yuan Zheng went to see him in person. The boy hugged Yuan Zheng’s thigh and cried loudly, shouting for God’s blessings. He thought he would never see Yuan Zheng again. Lao Junwang couldn’t bear to watch it and said in a deep voice, “Fang Jing, don’t be so presumptuous.”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Junwang, it’s fine.” He glanced at Fang Jing and said, “You still didn’t get up?”

 

Fang Jing stood up reluctantly. Lao Junwang glared at him and said to Yuan Zheng, “Your Majesty, the old minister will take his leave.” After that, he gestured to Cen Yelan, who was standing quietly behind Yuan Zheng, before retreating.

 

As soon as he left, Fang Jing looked at Yuan Zheng and said, “Ah Zheng, have you really become the emperor?”

 

Yuan Zheng snorted and laughed but did not comment.

 

Fang Jing sighed, “It’s like a dream…” He suddenly changed the subject, looked at Yuan Zheng eagerly, and said, “Ah Zheng, have I done meritorious service?”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Yes.”

 

Fang Jing asked, “Should there be rewards for meritorious service?”

 

Yuan Zheng sighed and said, “Didn’t I reward you?” Soon after he ascended the throne, he sent a lot of things to Junwang’s Mansion. Fang Jing smiled and said, “Where’s my wine?”

 

Yuan Zheng smiled and said, “When you get better, I will drink with you again.”

 

Fang Jing muttered, “You don’t know, I was really scared, I thought I was going to die—” When he said he was going to die, he paused, looked at Cen Yelan, raised his hands, and saluted.

 

Cen Yelan looked at Fang Jing and saw Fang Jing raise his eyes, look at him, and say, “Thanks to Brother Qi Ming and the brothers from the North Territory who fought to the death to protect me, that’s why I can stand here today.”

 

Cen Yelan was silent for a moment, then calmly said, “Life and death are determined by fate, there is no need to do this.”

 

Yuan Zheng squeezed Cen Yelan’s palm imperceptibly and suddenly said, “Fang Jing, now that you are well, go to court with your father.”

 

Fang Jing was stunned. Yuan Zheng said, “Your father must have told you about the court affairs. I am short of people.”

 

Fang Jing complained, “…But what can I do ah?”

 

Yuan Zheng smiled and said, “What are you afraid of? The imperial edict will arrive in a few days. You should prepare to take office as soon as possible.”

 

After that, he took Cen Yelan’s hand, waved, and left.

 

The two of them left Junwang’s Mansion and walked on the streets of Yandu. Cen Yelan was silent all the way. Yuan Zheng hooked his palm and said, “You think of Qi Ming?”

 

Cen Yelan hesitated for a moment and nodded.

 

Yuan Zheng squeezed his fingers, and Cen Yelan said, “Qi Ming’s parents died under the scimitars of the Hu people. He survived by chance and later wandered to Hanzhou alone. It happened that Hanzhou was recruiting soldiers, so he wanted to join the army.”

 

“Qi Ming was still young at that time.” Cen Yelan gestured, smiling a little, and said, “The soldiers in charge of recruiting refused to register his name, so he squatted aside and pestered them every day until the third day. I happened to pass by and saw that he was lonely and helpless. I couldn’t bear it and took him in. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye.”

 

Cen Yelan looked far away, but his expression was dim, and he sighed softly.

 

Yuan Zheng looked at Cen Yelan and couldn’t help thinking that although Cen Yelan looked cold and ruthless, but he was actually very soft-hearted, as pure as a child.

 

How lucky he is to have such a person.

 

Yuan Zheng suddenly grabbed his finger and kissed it. Cen Yelan’s hand trembled for a moment, and he came to his senses and looked around. The long street was bustling with people.

 

Cen Yelan whispered, “We are outside, there are so many people…”

 

Yuan Zheng smiled, approached Cen Yelan, and whispered, “Ah Lan, I really like you.”

 

Cen Yelan’s face suddenly turned red, and he wanted to pull his hand back, but Yuan Zheng held it tightly, his palm was burning hot, just like the young man’s strong love, it was undisguised, transparent, and exposed, not allowing him to break free.

 

Yuan Zheng laughed even more happily.

 

As the days passed, Cen Yelan’s belly grew bigger and bigger. When it was a six-month period, it was already very obvious.

 

After a period of recuperation, Yuan Zheng’s headaches rarely occurred, but he still liked to climb over the wall of the General’s mansion at night. Cen Yelan had told him twice, and Yuan Zheng smiled and agreed, but he still climbed over the wall. Cen Yelan simply turned a blind eye to him and let him do it but secretly asked the servants to keep the door open.

 

Yuan Zheng discovered that Cen Yelan had been worried recently and was often distracted and absent-minded. At first, Yuan Zheng thought he was worried about the northern border and mentioned it a few times, intentionally or unintentionally, but Cen Yelan was absent-minded and vaguely changed the subject.

 

That night, Yuan Zheng was half asleep and half awake when he noticed the person next to him moving, as if he was about to get up. Before Yuan Zheng regained consciousness, he had already reached out and hugged Cen Yelan, asking sleepily, “Where are you going?”

 

Cen Yelan said, “Go to the bathroom.”

 

Yuan Zheng hummed vaguely but did not let go. Instead, he rubbed the person’s neck. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Cen Yelan’s eyes were clear, as if he had not been asleep yet.

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Are you really going to get up to go to the bathroom?”

 

Cen Yelan glanced at him. Yuan Zheng had already propped himself up and sat up. He looked at Cen Yelan and said, “I’ll go with you.”

 

Cen Yelan was speechless. “How can there be a follower just to go to the bathroom at night?”

 

“I will follow.” Yuan Zheng yawned and said, “Let’s go together.”

 

Cen Yelan sighed in his heart. He was just worrying too much and couldn’t sleep. Moreover, it was difficult to turn over due to the heavy body and it would wake up Yuan Zheng. So he wanted to change rooms, but he didn’t expect Yuan Zheng to wake up immediately.

 

Cen Yelan slowly lay back down and said, “I’m not going anymore.”

 

Yuan Zheng immediately smiled. He propped himself up on the bed, looked down at Cen Yelan, reached out and touched his cheek, and whispered, “Ah Lan, if you have something on your mind, just tell me directly, alright? Don’t hide it from me.”

 

Cen Yelan was stunned for a moment and didn’t say anything.

 

Yuan Zheng was a little aggrieved and softly said, “I’m always afraid that I don’t love you enough and that I’ve wronged you. Don’t take advantage of my young age and hide everything from me or behind my back.”

 

Cen Yelan was speechless, holding Yuan Zheng’s hand, and whispered, “…I didn’t hide it from you.”

 

Yuan Zheng snorted, feeling aggrieved, “How is it that you didn’t? According to common sayings, you and I are husband and wife, and since we are husband and wife, we have to spend our whole lives together. You are so dishonest to me, you don’t want to spend your whole life with me at all!”

 

This accusation was totally unreasonable. Cen Yelan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He knew Yuan Zheng was just making trouble for no reason, but he still sighed and said, “…I was just thinking.”

 

Yuan Zheng was stunned. He didn’t expect Cen Yelan to be so frank. He was flattered and a little overwhelmed.

 

Cen Yelan said, “I’m just a little worried.” He said it with some discomfort.

 

Yuan Zheng said, “About what?”

 

Cen Yelan’s eyes fell on the drooping bed curtains. After a long while, he spoke, “I can no longer remember what my parents looked like. I only remember that they didn’t like me and said that I was—” He paused and uttered two words softly, “Unlucky and ominous.”

 

Yuan Zheng frowned but did not interrupt him. Instead, he held Cen Yelan’s fingers under the quilt.

 

Cen Yelan said, “They said I was a monster, I was born a monster, then the barbarians invaded and plundered the village, and my parents died. I couldn’t survive at home. I wandered for two years, during those two years, whenever I thought of my parents, I remembered that they said I was a monster. But at that time I didn’t know what was so strange about me.”

 

“Until that day…” Cen Yelan seemed to be back to that day, being pressed in the wilderness, his pants stripped off, his legs spread apart by dry, skinny fingers. The man laughed strangely, saying that he was a little monster, a little monster with a woman’s thing, a thing that was neither male nor female, and all kinds of bad words almost crushed him alive.

 

Even though he killed the man himself, but the nausea and fear he felt had been with him for many years. Cen Yelan had never thought that one day he would have to uncover these old wounds and expose them to Yuan Zheng.

 

Cen Yelan’s face was calm, but Yuan Zheng felt a sharp pain in his heart. He clenched Cen Yelan’s hand and said in a hoarse voice, “I’m sorry, Ah Lan… I’m sorry.”

 

Cen Yelan raised his eyes, looked at Yuan Zheng’s guilty expression, shook his head, and said softly, “I’m just worried… I’m worried that this child will be like me.”

 

Incomplete, and is a monster like him.

 

This thought came suddenly, inexplicably, but lingering, bringing up all those long-forgotten past events and making Cen Yelan uncontrollably anxious and panicked.

 

Yuan Zheng said, “You are not… Ah Lan, you are not!”

 

Yuan Zheng’s voice suddenly rose. He stared at Cen Yelan and said viciously, “You are not unlucky, ominous, or a monster!”

 

“You’re not!”

 

He seemed to be aware of his own loss of composure and tried to calm his tone, saying softly, “You are the one and only Cen Yelan in this world.”

 

“One in a million, one and only.”

 

“You’re my general, my beloved.” He looked at Cen Yelan deeply, kissed his lips, and tenderly said, “You are my treasure.”

 

Cen Yelan blinked slowly, and somehow, his nose felt sore.

 

“If he…”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Even if he is the same as you, would you not want him?”

 

“I wouldn’t.” Cen Yelan said without even thinking about it.

 

Yuan Zheng smiled and said softly, “Neither will I. I will love him like a pearl and treasure. He will be the most noble little prince or princess of Dayan.”

 

“He will have our love all his life. I love him and care for him. He will not suffer any injustice.”

 

“I promise.”

 

Cen Yelan stared at Yuan Zheng in a daze. The gloom that had been lingering for many days seemed to disappear in an instant, and he suddenly felt relieved. He thought that his child would naturally not follow in his footsteps.

 

Cen Yelan met Yuan Zheng’s focused gaze and belatedly realized that he felt a little embarrassed. He was over 30 years old, but he still needed Yuan Zheng to comfort and reassure him. He was really… going backwards as he got older.

 

Yuan Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief. His heart softened as he looked at Cen Yelan. He smiled, leaned over to touch Cen Yelan’s forehead, rubbed his ears together, and said, “Ah Lan, I’m so happy.”

 

Cen Yelan said, “Why are you happy?”

 

Yuan Zheng smiled, kissed the corner of his lips, and said, “Ah Lan, trust me and rely on me a little more.”

 

Cen Yelan’s ears felt hot, and suddenly he heard Yuan Zheng say, “Do you hate me?”

 

The two looked at each other, Yuan Zheng’s eyes were filled with anxiety, caution, and a bit of anticipation. Cen Yelan looked at him and said, “I used to.”

 

Yuan Zheng pursed his lips and said, “Do you still hate me?”

 

The more Cen Yelan didn’t speak, the more nervous Yuan Zheng became. He looked pitiful, not like an emperor at all, but like a puppy begging for mercy.

 

After a long time, Yuan Zheng heard Cen Yelan laugh and said, “I don’t hate you anymore.”

 

Cen Yelan really hated Yuan Zheng in the beginning. The hatred is real, and his love is also real. The love and hate in this world cannot be calculated clearly.

 

Life is short, so why not do what you want, go for it with joy, and return with satisfaction?