Military Camp.
Yu Shuang had just been so overjoyed that he shed tears. While crying, he pulled Shen Qingfeng and rambled on a great deal. Shen Qingfeng had never seen this guy cry before. For a moment, he felt a bit curious and inexplicably reached out his hand to touch Yu Shuang's head. Shen Qingfeng was only a few years older than Yu Shuang, yet Yu Shuang just let him do it. He even rubbed against Shen Qingfeng's hand. Then, he led Shen Qingfeng to the place where the Lu Army was camped. Without another word, he went inside to announce Shen Qingfeng's arrival.
The days of traveling had made Shen Qingfeng a bit weary. He walked at a steady pace, his eyes flitting over the soldiers coming and going around him.
The Lu Army truly lived up to its reputation. Although they had just finished a battle and were in the period of recuperation, every soldier still strictly adhered to military discipline. They were clearly divided in their duties and showed not a bit of sloth.
Shen Qingfeng was extremely gratified to see this. He covered his mouth and coughed softly. The hand holding the horse reins trembled slightly, and a sudden bitterness welled up in his heart.
He knew exactly what Lu Yan was doing now. Although Lu Yan had raised his army under the pretext of avenging Xia Yanhe, once he captured Lige City, it was very likely that the kingdom of Lixia would no longer be under the rule of the Xia family.
Shen Qingfeng had already foreseen this when he begged Su Huanyu to rescue Lu Yan. Sigh, he had lived two lifetimes, yet in the end, this was the outcome.
Shen Qingfeng tugged at the corner of his mouth, his heart aching.
Lu Yan was of royal blood, so he was naturally capable of becoming the king of Lixia. Moreover, Shen Qingfeng knew that Lu Yan could do a better job than anyone else. He was a natural general and a born leader. He would write another glorious chapter in the history of Lixia. He would be famous in the annals of history, with a harem full of concubines and numerous descendants...
As Shen Qingfeng laughed, tears welled up in his eyes. The hot tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, making his pale face flush slightly.
Only half a month left...
Lu Yan...
"Your Lordship!" The soldiers in front suddenly stood at attention. Shen Qingfeng looked up and saw that the originally bustling soldiers quickly split to the sides, creating a wide path in the middle. Shen Qingfeng's eyes paused for a moment, and his gaze slowly moved upwards. At the end of the path, he saw the general in the black iron and gilded armor.
Lu Yan seemed to have just finished a military meeting. He was breathing slightly heavily. The moment his eyes fell on Shen Qingfeng, they suddenly froze.
It was as if something had fallen to the ground, making a clear sound.
The exquisite dice, the lovesickness deeply engraved in the bones.
Just a few years older, his beard had grown slightly, showing the hardships he had endured. He was haggard, and his clothes hung loosely on his body.
All the family grudges and sorrows, all the suspicions and misunderstandings, in that instant, melted into an illness and were engraved into the lovesickness.
"To live or die, in life or death, I made a promise with you." They had never held hands, yet their eyes were filled with tears.
Shen Qingfeng's throat tightened. He slowly stretched out his hand and choked out, "A Yan..."
The man in front seemed to suddenly wake up. Then, he suddenly turned around and walked into the tent.
Shen Qingfeng's heart ached violently. He stretched out his hand as if trying to grasp something in the air. With tears in his eyes, he watched the determined back. But just when Shen Qingfeng's heart was about to shatter, that determined figure could no longer hold on. He turned around again. In the confused looks of the soldiers, he rushed towards Shen Qingfeng at full speed.
He grabbed Shen Qingfeng's hand firmly and picked him up horizontally.
Shen Qingfeng leaned against the familiar chest in a daze. He seemed to be stunned. Then, he slowly raised his head.
He looked at Lu Yan's jaw, his lips, his eyebrows...
The smile on Shen Qingfeng's lips became brighter and brighter, but his tears welled up like a spring, breaking through the dam in an instant.
He leaned tightly against Lu Yan's armor, wrapped his arms around Lu Yan's neck, and cried loudly.
A Yan...
A Yan.
Shen Qingfeng hiccupped from crying, but he stubbornly called out, again and again, urgently and affectionately.
As if he urgently needed to confirm something, he pressed tightly against Lu Yan's chest. And as if he was craving for relief, his tears dripped one by one onto the soft collar of Lu Yan's neck.
Shen Qingfeng trembled all over. He pointed at his chest with a shaking finger. In Lu Yan's fiery gaze, he cried with a trembling voice, "It hurts."
It hurt, so much that it tasted bitter, so much that it felt like his heart was being torn apart.
Lu Yan rubbed his face against Shen Qingfeng's with tears in his eyes. He knew that there were two sharp thorns in Shen Qingfeng's chest. Those two thorns were stabbing deeply into his heart, causing it to bleed, fester, and never heal.
Those two thorns were named after him.
That day, he was completely devastated. Looking at the sky at dawn, he was filled with despair and heartbreak.
He said,
"True feelings, that's all that matters.
If we don't share the same sorrow, why bother with the act?"
After that, he returned to the northern kingdom full of resentment and despair. But everything was explained in Yu Shuang's words. He regained his trust and love for Shen Qingfeng and began to prepare for battle. But what had he left for Shen Qingfeng?
Two sharp thorns piercing through his heart.
Shen Qingfeng's heart was bleeding, and he had stayed alone in the Bian Palace for a year.
A whole year. How much pain must he have endured...
Lu Yan placed Shen Qingfeng on the couch but still refused to let go. He hugged Shen Qingfeng's shoulders, shed tears, and kissed every inch of his face.
"It doesn't hurt," Lu Yan said in a trembling voice, reaching out his hands to hold Shen Qingfeng's face.
Shen Qingfeng's tears kept flowing. He was sobbing so hard that he couldn't speak. He could only wrap his arms around Lu Yan's neck and raise his head to ask for a kiss.
It was salty.
Lu Yan carefully traced the shape of his lips and slowly licked away the salty taste.
It doesn't hurt anymore...
It doesn't hurt anymore, Feng'er.
I'm here.
But Shen Qingfeng's tears still didn't stop. Lu Yan panicked. He quickly got on the couch and tightly locked Shen Qingfeng in his arms. While kissing him, he gently stroked his back.
Shen Qingfeng was in great grief. He was counting the days until his death. How could he bring this up?
He couldn't say it. He could only shed tears silently.
Lying on Lu Yan's chest, he cried and said, "I'm not the Queen Shen."
Lu Yan was shocked all over. He paused for a moment, stroked Shen Qingfeng's head, and said, "Yes, you're not. You're my Feng'er."
As if thinking that Lu Yan didn't believe him, Shen Qingfeng added, "He didn't touch me."
Lu Yan's heart ached. His guilt and pity for Shen Qingfeng intertwined like thorns, tightly wrapping around his heart.
Shen Qingfeng cried again, "He didn't touch me. I threatened him with my life. A Yan, believe me, believe me..."
Lu Yan's heart was about to break. In his heart, Shen Qingfeng was a gentle and elegant scholar, a peerless young master. When had such a proud and upright person become so insecure?
Was it because of his previous distrust of him?
He had hurt him so deeply.
"I believe you. Of course, I believe you, silly Feng'er," Lu Yan kissed away his tears and repeated it again and again.
They hugged each other tightly, as if they were in the perfect ending written in the play.
It was said that life was like a play, but life was often more unpredictable than a play.
The words "We don't share the same sorrow" seemed to fit the current situation.
Shen Qingfeng's eyes were blurred with tears. He couldn't say it. Every time he opened his mouth, he could only call out Lu Yan's name.
He knew that he was at the end of his strength. He had always been weak, and the year in the Bian Palace had been a torture for him every day. It was said that lovesickness could turn into an illness that no medicine could cure. In just one year, he had become terminally ill.
Half a month, A Yan. Let me accompany you for half a month more.
Shen Qingfeng took off his clothes and straddled Lu Yan.
The night was deep, and the dew was heavy. Everything was silent.
Outside the soft curtain, the west wind swayed the candle.
At the moment of ecstasy, Shen Qingfeng slowly closed his eyes. A tear rolled down his cheek and disappeared.