Unexpectedly, Nalan Xuan responded with nothing but disdain. He gave a cold snort and asked icily, “And then?”
Hu’erhan had never, from the day he was born until now, seen anyone more beautiful than Prince Nanyang, man or woman. From the very beginning, he had instinctively assumed that someone like this ought to be gentle and delicate, someone who needed to be cherished and protected. Even after witnessing Nalan Xuan’s overwhelming strength, that impression had never completely left him. He instinctively wanted to shelter him, instinctively wanted to keep him far away from turmoil. Yet now, the same face remained just as beautiful but had become unnaturally cold, like a bloodthirsty demon from hell, cruel and merciless. Hu’erhan could not help shuddering.
“So you’ve begun to believe what he said—or perhaps you believe it completely.”
To Nalan Xuan, the very idea sounded particularly grating and contemptible. He had witnessed Feng Xuanyi’s methods more than once. It was always the same performance dressed in slightly different clothes. Nalan Xuan could not help sighing. Had the man really traveled thousands of li into enemy territory just to stage this old act again? Had he simply become that bored?
“This subordinate general would not dare.” Hu’erhan became immediately apprehensive. Nalan Xuan’s voice remained perfectly ordinary and not even his expression changed, yet Hu’erhan instinctively knew that his speculation—and this entire subject—had made Prince Nanyang exceptionally angry.
Nalan Xuan casually tossed aside the single piece of firewood he had spent so long picking up and straightened. “Since you’ve followed us all this way, why bother continuing to hide?”
From behind a large tree not far away, Xuan Guang slowly stepped into view, wearing the same perpetually expressionless face as always.
“If my lord has something to say, you may as well say it directly.” Nalan Xuan turned and calmly met Xuan Guang’s gaze. Hu’erhan, who had always considered his own skills exceptional, had failed to notice that someone had been watching them from such close range for so long. A chill immediately crawled down his back.
Xuan Guang said nothing. He merely glanced at Hu’erhan, who was still crouched on the ground in the posture of gathering firewood, then lowered his head respectfully.
“You may leave us,” Nalan Xuan said, understanding the gesture.
Hu’erhan stared at Nalan Xuan in disbelief. He had never expected the prince to send him away at a moment like this and face an unknown danger alone. “But—” The objection reached his lips, yet beneath Nalan Xuan’s cold, unwavering gaze he did not dare disobey. “This subordinate general takes his leave.”
Only after Hu’erhan had gone some distance did Nalan Xuan speak again. “Lord Xuan Guang, whatever guidance you have to offer, please feel free to speak. I will certainly listen attentively.”
The moment he finished speaking, Xuan Guang dropped to his knees with a thud. Wearing only a thin inner robe, his knees struck the ground with an unusually loud impact.
Nalan Xuan merely raised a brow. He neither stopped him nor asked any questions, simply watching in silence as he waited for what would follow.
“Young Master, please try to understand Master and return to the palace with him.” Xuan Guang had followed Feng Xuanyi since childhood. As his “shadow,” his duty had always been to protect his master’s safety. As a servant, he had no right to interfere in matters between his masters, and many things should never have been spoken from the mouth of someone in his position. Yet after seeing again the man his master thought about day and night, Xuan Guang knew there were certain things he had to say despite overstepping his place. Otherwise, he feared his master’s journey would ultimately accomplish nothing.
“My lord must have mistaken me for someone else. This prince has never met any of you before, nor am I that Empress Yu who is supposedly showered with every imaginable favor. How could there be any question of ‘returning to the palace’? As for understanding him, that is even more irrelevant. On the contrary, since all of you have traveled thousands of li to my Xiliang, this prince ought to show proper hospitality and invite you all to Prince Nanyang’s residence for a visit.” Nalan Xuan spoke with complete sincerity.
“Young Master has been gone for many days and does not know what has happened inside the palace since then. Master has been like a completely different person ever since you left—or perhaps Master had already begun changing from the moment he met you. Master did not hesitate to put aside affairs of state and travel thousands upon thousands of li to Xiliang for you. When we first heard the news, we did not even have absolute proof that Prince Nanyang truly was Young Master, yet Master refused to wait any longer and insisted on coming here regardless of the danger. Can Young Master truly not understand what lies behind all of that?”
An anxious expression appeared even on Xuan Guang’s usually coffin-like face. Nalan Xuan almost wanted to applaud him for how thoroughly he had entered into the performance. “And what exactly do you think this prince is supposed to understand from that?”
His gaze moved away from Xuan Guang and landed upon the man standing behind him. “Forgive this prince for being slow-witted and incapable of discerning imperial intentions. I wonder what Emperor Huawu wishes this prince to understand?”
Xuan Guang tactfully withdrew. He sighed soundlessly, knowing that no matter what else he said, Young Master would not listen—or perhaps Young Master was no longer capable of hearing anything anyone said.
“Stop being angry with me. I know you won’t believe anything I say right now.” Feng Xuanyi pulled Nalan Xuan abruptly into his arms and gently stroked his smooth, long hair. It was almost as though they had returned to those days when Nalan Xuan had first entered Prince Rong’s residence, when there had been no barriers between them and everything had been wholehearted, sweet, and happy. “I told you to come back to the palace with me. This time, I will treat you well… I will truly treat you well…”
His voice was low and hoarse, like a spell tempting someone toward ruin. A plea like this might never again leave Feng Xuanyi’s mouth.
Nalan Xuan had just been about to answer with a sneer when Feng Xuanyi continued speaking to himself. “If I could, I would give anything to return to the time when you first entered my residence. Back then, you actually mistook me for an ordinary guard and ordered me around however you pleased. All I had to do was bring you a few pastries and you would become ridiculously happy—”
As he spoke, Feng Xuanyi actually laughed softly. His gaze grew distant as he remembered the past. Such nostalgia and sorrow had somehow appeared on Feng Xuanyi’s face—a sovereign who had been famous for his romantic exploits since youth and yet had always been cold-blooded and heartless. The affection, attachment, and helplessness upon him seemed almost impossible.
Nalan Xuan made no immediate attempt to escape Feng Xuanyi’s embrace. One corner of his lips rose while his phoenix eyes remained entirely cold. “Does Your Majesty know that those days were also the most foolish and unbearable part of my entire past?”
He felt the arms around him stiffen instantly and experienced an indescribably twisted surge of pleasure at the reaction.
“I know there are many things that made you hate me, but I had my own reasons, just as you had your own purpose. I won’t ask you why you did what you did, so please forgive the mistakes I made as well. Let us cast aside the shackles of status and personal gain. Give me another chance, and give yourself another chance too. All right?”
Feng Xuanyi spoke with complete sincerity, but Nalan Xuan nearly burst out laughing, particularly at the phrase “the shackles of status and personal gain.” Coming from the mouth of a sovereign who placed imperial authority above all else, it was almost unbearably absurd.
Nalan Xuan reached out and felt Feng Xuanyi’s forehead, then touched his own. He exerted every bit of restraint he possessed to keep his facial muscles from collapsing into laughter and tried to look as sincere, humble, and puzzled as possible. “You don’t seem to have a fever.”
Feng Xuanyi had departed completely from his usual character and spoken so many words straight from the heart, yet Nalan Xuan’s attitude remained unchanged from beginning to end: indifference and disbelief.
At that moment, Xuan Guang came running toward them looking as though his soul had left his body and the sky itself had collapsed, no longer caring in the slightest whether he was interrupting something private. “Reporting to Master—Bitong Pass has fallen!”
Seeing the satisfied smile upon the person in his arms, Feng Xuanyi immediately understood most of what had happened. “When? And who led the troops?”
Xuan Guang hesitated for a long time under Feng Xuanyi’s gaze before finally answering, “Only a few hours ago. The reports from the army say that the Xiliang commander is Prince Yi.”