From afar came the continuous sounds of military drills. Shen Qingfeng stood still, covering his chest. Due to his weak body, a faint sweetness welled up in his throat. He gritted his teeth and forcefully swallowed the blood back.
The events of this life and the previous one replayed in Shen Qingfeng's mind. His mind was in a mess. He couldn't help but gasp for breath and took a few steps back to lean against the corridor.
Putting aside all the mysteries, in his previous life, he didn't know the truth behind the death of the Lu Family Army, nor did he notice the feud between Princess Liuli and Cen Shuning. Excluding these factors, the things related to Lan that happened in this life were almost the same as in the previous one.
Did it mean that Lan wasn't reborn?
Coincidentally, almost all of Lan's actions were creating conflicts.
Shen Qingfeng looked up at him, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.
Lan walked up to him cheerfully and said, "Judging from your expression, it seems you've figured something out?"
"I have indeed." Shen Qingfeng said in a deep voice, "You are walking with evil."
Lan's expression finally became a bit more serious. He stared at Shen Qingfeng with his head down, seemingly in surprise, "Evil?"
"Haha, you call these... evil?"
"You've instigated wars and created strife among countries and parties. What else could it be called if not evil?!"
Lan squinted his eyes. Suddenly, he bent down and got close to Shen Qingfeng's face, saying, "Young Master Ruwei, for all your knowledge, don't you know the saying 'the times produce heroes'?"
Shen Qingfeng gritted his teeth in anger, "You instigate a turbulent world and still claim to be a hero?"
Lan glanced at him, straightened up and said, "Since ancient times, heroes emerge in turbulent times. I pursue the turbulent world, secretly control the situation, and manipulate life and death behind the scenes. The whole world is my chessboard. This game determines life and death, and influences prosperity and decline. Controlling this game, isn't it wonderful?"
Shen Qingfeng trembled with anger. His eyes were blood - red as he shouted loudly, "Absurd! When war breaks out, the common people suffer! Those are all living lives!"
"Haha, you care about those ants?" Lan sneered, "It's really the emperor who's not worried but the eunuch is. Look at the leaders in this turbulent world. In the end, even if I don't set any traps, they're eager to fight on their own. Can you hear the military drills next door? They think it's a just war!"
"You—!"
"It's true that I've been instigating these things from behind, but if they didn't have the ambition and desire, I wouldn't have been able to persuade them. Am I right?"
Shen Qingfeng cursed, "It's not just instigation! You've clearly been scheming step by step!"
"Oh? Then I'll explain it to you." Lan smiled and actually started counting on his fingers, "Let's start from the very beginning. Firstly, King Xia Jie already feared Lu Jiang's military power but couldn't openly deprive him of his fief. After Lu Jiang was trapped by the Donghu and died in the war designed by King Xia Jie, the king wanted to sacrifice the Lu Family Army to Xing Tian. I just gave him a hand."
"Secondly, Cen Shuning and Liuli had already secretly pledged their love to each other. Who would have thought that King Xia Jie would ignore the ancestral teachings and marry Liuli out of lust. Later, because of the bloodline issue, he wanted to kill Liuli to weaken the crown prince's strength. I just fulfilled his wish and gave him a bottle of Qianhua Yinsui."
"Thirdly, the Northern Country and the Qi Clan are located on the border. There are many who don't submit to Li Xia. I just provided a little help. Not to mention that the Donghu had long coveted the territory of Li Xia. I gave Yuwen Qian advice, which also fulfilled his wish, didn't it?"
Lan spread his hands and said, "These aren't my desires. If you really want to blame someone, you should blame them."
"What a high - sounding reason." Shen Qingfeng covered his chest and spat, "You helped King Xia Jie deal with the Lu Family Army, which led to Lu Yan's rebellion. You helped King Xia Jie kill Princess Liuli, and planted the seed of revenge in Xia Chuli. You helped Yuwen Qian ally with the Western Rong to fight against Li Xia, bringing endless hatred to the common people. From beginning to end, you've just been trying to disrupt the world!"
"So what? I helped them fulfill their wishes. Is it wrong for them to do something for me? It's fair enough." Lan said, "I'm just pursuing the turbulent world. You see things clearly, unlike Yuwen Qian..."
"Why did you kill Yuwen Qian?"
"To prevent him from ruining my good deeds." Lan smiled, "Compared to the small skirmishes between the Donghu and Li Xia, it's more interesting here with the Marquis of Dingbei. If he didn't die, how could the marquis raise his army with peace of mind?"
Shen Qingfeng stared at him firmly, "... You're really a madman!"
"Since ancient times, aren't all the bold and the wise a bit crazy?" Lan said with his hands behind his back, "I don't need to convince you on this matter. Since we're on the same side now, we might as well cooperate well and not make things unpleasant for each other, right?"
Shen Qingfeng sneered, "You didn't show any mercy when you killed Yuwen Qian."
"Don't worry. The Marquis of Dingbei is useful to me now. If I kill him, how can I watch the show? Instead of worrying about this, you should worry about how many days you have left." After saying that, Lan turned around and was about to leave.
Shen Qingfeng gritted his teeth and said, "... I still have something to ask you."
Lan paused, turned around and seemed helpless, "Alright, alright. Considering that you're about to die, ask."
Shen Qingfeng coughed lightly. Some blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. He wiped it off casually with his hand and said in a deep voice, "You can control those nourished by Qianhua Yinsui. Now that Xiangcheng has been detoxified, can you still control him?"
Lan pursed his lips and said nothing. Their gazes met in the air, neither of them willing to back down.
After a while.
"No."
"Truth?"
"You guess."
-
Yu Shuang looked at Shen Qingfeng lying on the bed with a pale face. He slowly withdrew his hand from taking Shen Qingfeng's pulse. Just as he was about to say something, Shen Qingfeng reached out to stop him and shook his head slightly.
Yu Shuang's eyes were red. Tears streamed down his face in an instant. He said tremblingly, "Young Master... You..."
"Prescribe the medicine. Drag it out for a day if you can. Don't tell A Yan, nor my father and elder brother. If they ask, just say I've gone into seclusion."
Hearing this, Yu Shuang trembled all over. He covered his mouth and cried silently.
Shen Qingfeng stretched out his thin hand and stroked Yu Shuang's head again and again, saying softly, "Yu Shuang, how are the Shen family members?"
Yu Shuang hiccupped from crying and said tremblingly, "They're... all fine. They're being taken care of by Young Master Mo and living in seclusion in the south of the Yangtze River."
"That's good..." Shen Qingfeng's eyes dimmed, "After I'm gone, you'll be free. If you don't want to serve the Shen family anymore, leave early..."
Yu Shuang grabbed Shen Qingfeng's hand and shook his head vigorously, "No, it was the young master who saved my life. I'll be the young master's man for the rest of my life and will serve the Shen family for a lifetime."
"Silly boy, don't think I can't tell that you like that Xu fellow. If you continue to serve the Shen family, how can you live your own life?" Shen Qingfeng said as if scolding, reaching out to pat him gently, "That Xu fellow is not worry - free. I still have some savings. Remember to take them. Coax him more when you can."
Hearing this, Yu Shuang cried even harder and couldn't even speak. This once cold and heartless bodyguard actually lay on the side of Shen Qingfeng's bed, shaking with sobs. His tears fell like big beans, seeping into the brocade quilt one by one.
The sky began to turn red. The setting sun dyed the window lattice, casting a golden - red glow over the room.
The military drills in the distance came to an end. Lu Yan had assembled his troops. Looking at the soldiers who would go with him to attack Mingxiao City tomorrow, the boldness and arrogance on his face were undisguised. He sheathed his long sword and stood on the city wall of Anyi, looking far in the direction of Lige City.
He knew that there, he would use his sword to avenge his grudges and use his sword to create a new future.
That future would be created by his own hands, without corruption or flattery, without high taxes and corvée.
He would create a prosperous era for Li Xia, appoint good ministers, protect the common people, and safeguard the mountains and rivers.
He had the courage and the confidence, because he knew that the person who would stand by his side and share this with him was Shen Qingfeng.
He let out a few long laughs to the sky, quickly took off his heavy armor, and rushed into his bedroom like the wind.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Shen Qingfeng sitting at the table, looking at the geographical map and sipping tea.
He was so beautiful, like an immortal descending from a landscape painting, or like the bright moon and gentle breeze in a summer night sky. He had elegant eyebrows, alluring lips, and charming eyes. He slightly raised his eyes, and with just one look, he melted the spring water in Lu Yan's heart. It was warm and melted into his heart.
"Back?" Shen Qingfeng put down the geographical map, slowly walked to Lu Yan's side, and naturally put his arms around Lu Yan's neck.
Lu Yan smiled, then wrapped his arms around Shen Qingfeng's waist. On his handsome face, the mole at the corner of his eye was extremely alluring.
Shen Qingfeng was a bit dazed. Instinctively, he raised his head and kissed Lu Yan's thin lips. Then he pulled Lu Yan to take off his clothes, and they sank into passion together.