HXC Chapter55

In the training ground, shouts rumbled like thunder. The soldiers, clad in iron armor and helmets and wielding spears and shields, were lined up in neat rows. Although it was only a routine drill, they were all in a state of high alert, not daring to slack off at all. From the high lookout tower, the sight was magnificent, grand, and awe-inspiring.

 

Ji Zhen crouched down quietly on the platform while listening to the shouts from below that sounded like a surging tide. His chest swelled with emotion, and he wished he could rush into the ranks and fight alongside these brave men.

 

“Zhen Zhen.”

 

Just as he was watching excitedly, he heard his elder brother calling him from the stairs. He responded and trotted over. The northern desert was located at the northernmost end of the Great Heng Empire. The climate was dry, and although it was approaching autumn, the blazing sun was still very fierce. Ji Zhen’s face was flushed after being in the sun for less than a quarter of an hour.

 

He and Ji Jue descended the lookout tower together. Jiang Yuyu happened to be walking from the training ground. Dressed in full gear, he held a shimmering silver spear behind his back. The solemn aura around him had not yet faded, and Ji Zhen felt as if he could glimpse the unyielding and formidable presence of the man on the battlefield.

 

When Jiang Yuyu saw Ji Zhen, he teased, “You came to sneak a peek at this general’s glorious demeanor again?”

 

Ji Zhen huffed, “There are so many people in the training ground. If I were to really look…” He glanced around. “I’d be looking at the tall and mighty Deputy General Lin.”

 

Their bickering had become a common occurrence during the last half a year in the northern desert. Even the soldiers knew that this delicate young master from the capital, who looked like he couldn’t even tie a chicken, could easily handle their impressive General Huaiyuan with just a few words. At first, they found it strange, but they gradually got used to it.

 

Ji Jue regarded the scene as an everyday occurrence and said with a gentle smile, “You’re still like a child after all these years, you can’t stand to be on the losing end.”

 

Ji Zhen linked arms with his elder brother, and like a child with parents’ backing, he proudly tilted his chin slightly and said, “Since Gege has spoken. I won’t bother to argue with you.”

 

Jiang Yuyu couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing that Ji Zhen was looking at his silver spear, he deftly handed it to him. “You look so intrigued. Why don’t you try wielding it?”

 

Ji Zhen was eager to try. “I’ll do it. Who’s afraid of whom?”

 

He confidently reached for the silver spear, only to realize its power the moment Jiang Yuyu let go. The silver spear was much heavier than he had imagined, weighing about thirty pounds. An ordinary person would feel their hands and arms ache after holding it for a short time, yet Jiang Yuyu could use it to kill enemies with seemingly effortless ease.

 

He felt admiration in his heart but was unwilling to let Jiang Yuyu look down on him. Mustering his strength, he lifted the spear and waved it around. His movements were chaotic and without any technique, which drew a hearty laugh from Jiang Yuyu.

 

Ji Jue was afraid that Ji Zhen would hurt himself, so he pressed his palm down on the wildly moving silver spear and called out “Zhen Zhen” with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.

 

Ji Zhen was utterly humiliated. He tossed the silver spear back to Jiang Yuyu and clapped his hands, saying, “Alright, I admit that you won this round.”

 

Jiang Yuyu jabbed the butt of the spear into the yellow dirt. “I didn’t have to compete with you for a winner.”

 

The three of them chatted for a while longer under the sun. Ji Jue noticed the blush on Ji Zhen’s face was getting deeper and took him back to the tent.

 

Ji An handed Ji Zhen some water to wash his face and cool off. Ji Zhen used the damp cloth to press against his cheeks alternately, gradually finding some relief. Ji Jue sat on the daybed, and Ji Zhen obediently sat beside his elder brother.

 

Ji Jue took out a jar of vanishing cream to soothe Ji Zhen’s slightly dry cheeks, but paused when he noticed Ji Zhen staring at the jar, his face flushed with a mix of red and pale tones. He frowned and asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Unwanted memories flooded his mind. Ji Zhen bit his lip. “Nothing.”

 

Ji Jue’s brows furrowed even more deeply. He first sent Ji An out, then gently applied the white cream to Ji Zhen’s slightly red cheeks with his fingertips.

 

Ji Zhen lowered his eyelashes. The more he tried to suppress them, the more chaotic images flashed in his mind. He was unsettled and in a daze. His elder brother’s next words pushed his confusion to the peak: “Are you thinking of Shen Yanqing?”

 

His secret had been revealed. Ji Zhen’s eyes widened suddenly as they met Ji Jue’s gentle gaze. He subconsciously wanted to deny it, but Ji Jue said softly, “Zhen Zhen, you don’t need to pretend in front of me.”

 

His elder brother’s fingertips glided over his cheek and lingered. Ji Zhen’s nose tingled, and he was choked with sobs.

 

“In the past half year, you’ve had moments of genuine joy and moments of forced smiles. But the more you pretend, the more it breaks my heart,” Ji Jue said gently. “Humans are not plants or stones; how can we be without feelings? You should laugh when you’re happy and cry when you’re sad. Zhen Zhen, I hope you can be honest with me. It’s alright to laugh freely when you’re happy and to cry loudly when you’re sad, instead of using the word ‘nothing’ to brush me off when I notice you are troubled and worried.”

 

Ji Zhen hurriedly said, “Gege, I’m just afraid that you’ll blame me for being weak and constantly…”

 

“Even though we are not biological brothers, since you call me Gege, how could I bear to be harsh with you?” Ji Jue said with heartache. “Even if you still haven’t moved on from Shen Yanqing, it’s not like I can dig him out of your heart either, right?”

 

Ji Zhen understood that his elder brother was like a spring breeze or a gentle drizzle, his affection had always been subtle and nourishing. Yet, seeing his elder brother be so understanding, he resented himself even more for his lingering feelings for Shen Yanqing.

 

Over the past six months, he had received only fragmented news, learning merely that Jinzhou had endured several disasters and that Shen Yanqing was gravely ill. He didn’t dare to ask his elder brother for fear of revealing his foul thoughts, but he hadn’t expected his elder brother to have already seen through his seemingly flawless pretense.

 

Ji Zhen choked out, “I often dream that he died a violent death…”

 

In his dreams, blood mist lingered. Every time he woke up, his heart would pound with fear.

 

Ji Jue held his hand reassuringly. “I didn’t bring him up today for no reason. An old friend from the capital wrote to me that the plague has been brought under control, and Shen Yanqing has returned to court.”

 

Ji Zhen was stunned. He took a few quick breaths, his expression caught between a smile and tears. In the end, he buried his face in his elder brother’s embrace, sobbing softly.

 

Ji Jue gently patted his heaving back, closed his eyes, and let out a low sigh.

 

After all, they were married for five years. It was hard for Ji Zhen to remain unconcerned about Shen Yanqing’s life or death. After learning that the other party was safe, his worries gradually faded, and the nightmares became less and less frequent. He secretly made up his mind that no matter how difficult it was, he would slowly peel Shen Yanqing out of his heart until he no longer cared about anything related to him.

 

After all, they would have no more interactions.

 

—

 

Jiang Yuyu had been stationed in the northern desert for nearly two years and had fought many times with the Khitan, the most powerful nomadic tribe in the region. He had also sparred with the Khitan’s first prince, Yelu Qi, multiple times. After many battles, the two men came to admire each other’s strategies. As both rivals and friends, they signed a truce agreement, after which Yelu Qi visited the Han army’s camp.

 

This was his first visit again after more than half a year.

 

Yelu Qi was the legitimate son of the Khitan king. He is nearly forty years old and had already been granted a princedom and was the most likely candidate to inherit the throne.

 

When Ji Zhen heard of Yelu Qi’s impending visit, he was very curious about the difference between a nomadic prince and one from the capital. He uncharacteristically didn’t lie in bed late, and early in the morning, he and Ji An hid behind a tent to watch from a distance.

 

Before they could even see the person, they already heard his voice. The man’s laughter was as loud as a bell. “No need to be so polite, Young General! King Father knew that this prince was coming to your camp and specifically instructed this prince to bring some cured beef legs. Let’s feast to our hearts’ content before we discuss important matters!”

 

Ji Zhen poked his head out. After he got a clear look at Yelu Qi’s figure, he and Ji An both gasped in unison.

 

Yelu Qi was as tall and strong as a mountain, with a head like a tiger and eyes like a leopard. He was dressed in gray-brown armor, with brown fur covering his shoulders. A glistening golden eagle was on his chest plate. From a distance, one might mistake him for a fierce brown bear from the jungle. Ji Zhen looked at his broad, thick palm and had no doubt that if anyone dared to annoy this prince, a single punch from him would shatter their guts.

 

He was stunned and forgot to pull his head back. Yelu Qi had an extremely strong sense of alertness. His sharp, hawk-like eyes shot toward him, scaring Ji Zhen so much that his legs went weak.

 

“Who’s peeking?”

 

Ji Jue stepped forward and said, “That is my younger brother. He was rude; I hope Your Highness the First Prince will not take offense.”

 

Ji Zhen could no longer keep himself hidden. Hesitantly, he stepped out, casting a timid glance at Yelu Qi, who could easily match three of him, and weakly called, “Gege…”

 

Yelu Qi was not angry. He waved his large hand. “Since he’s Master Qin’s younger brother, let him enjoy the Khitan delicacies with us.”

 

Ji Zhen was like a chick seeing an eagle. He did not dare to be disrespectful. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

Jiang Yuyu let out a laugh, which earned him a glare from Ji Zhen. As he walked past Ji Zhen, he teased him by his ear, “You’re not competing for a winner this time?”

 

Ji Zhen stomped sharply on the back of Jiang Yuyu’s foot and hurried toward Ji An, only to find him even more helpless, having collapsed to the ground in terror.

 

He let out a long sigh. It was true that different lands raised different people. Everything about the northern desert was great, except that the people were a bit too big…

 

The open-air banquet had been set up. Jiang Yuyu and Yelu Qi sat at the head table, with some generals below them. Ji Zhen sat at the same table as his elder brother, eating heartily while listening to them talk.

 

The word “discuss” was mentioned no less than five times.

 

What were they discussing? Although his elder brother had never revealed a single word to Ji Zhen, Ji Zhen also had a vague guess.

 

Ji Zhen didn’t like to read official books, but he enjoyed reading unofficial history books. There was a chapter about a rebellion, and he remembered it clearly because the process was too brutal.

 

A general stationed on the frontier was dissatisfied with the emperor’s tyrannical rule and plotted a rebellion, intending to help a benevolent ruler ascend the throne. Because he lacked troops, the general made a deal with the wolves, borrowing thirty thousand soldiers from the Xiongnu and the Hu people, promising to reduce tribute after the rebellion’s success and to form an eternal friendly alliance.

 

The general led his army to attack Longcheng, in order to protect his throne, the emperor disregarded the people of the frontier and voluntarily ceded ten cities in exchange for the Hu army’s defection. The general and his elite soldiers were surrounded and captured. The ruthless emperor suspended him upside down before the city gate, carving away his flesh bit by bit with a sharp knife, tormenting him for three days and three nights. Just as he took his last breath, the emperor disemboweled him, and his intestines spilled onto the ground.

 

And because he had colluded with foreign nations, the common people also deeply hated the general. His body was exposed for many days, and everyone could step on it…

 

Ji Zhen suddenly shivered. His throat felt locked, and he couldn’t swallow the cured beef in his mouth at all.

 

He looked up at Jiang Yuyu, who was chatting and laughing with Yelu Qi. The sound of booming laughter echoed in his ears. It was clearly a very harmonious and hearty scene, but he shivered slightly.

 

Since ancient times, failed rebels had always met a tragic end. Jiang Yuyu and his elder brother must know this better than he did. But even though they knew the road ahead was treacherous, they still resolutely dedicated their lives and shed their blood. How could he back down just because of a story from an unofficial history book?

 

Ji Zhen gulped down a few mouthfuls of strong liquor to embolden himself. He then stared at the roasted sheep intestines on the plate, picked one up with his chopsticks, and shoved it into his mouth to chew randomly.

 

Ji Jue said in a low voice, “Why are you eating so quickly?”

 

“It’s so gross!” Ji Zhen spat out twice and then muttered to encourage himself, “I’m not afraid of having my intestines cut out…”

 

Who doesn’t have intestines? What’s the big deal? He had said it before, with his elder brother there, he wasn’t afraid of anything.

 

The author has something to say:

Brave Zhen Zhen, not afraid of having his intestines cut!