Ch. 68 - Zhong Yansheng: My brother will definitely be very happy

Zhong Yansheng stared at Wei Ling blankly.

Is he the one who is engaged to Xiao Nong?

Xiao Wenlan was very mysterious at that time and told him that Xiao Nong hated this marriage very much. Xiao Nong also rejected this marriage and told him that it didn't count.

If Xiao Nong knew his identity and knew that the person he hated and was betrothed to was him, what would be his reaction?

And that thing on his body that looks like a Gu, if it is really related to Xiao Nong, doesn't that mean his birth is a bondage to Xiao Nong?

Zhong Yansheng didn't know how to react for a moment. He couldn't tell whether he should be surprised or frightened. He turned around in confusion.

Seeing Zhong Yansheng suddenly stop talking and start turning around in circles as if in annoyance, with a look of worry on his face, Wei Ling's heart suddenly tightened.

"Is the young master worried about this?"

Wei Ling said in a deep voice: "This engagement is only a verbal agreement between your highness and the old Prince Ding. If you don't want to, no one can force you. I am willing to die to protect you, and I will not let Prince Ding look down on you!"

Zhong Yansheng was shocked by his attitude and thought that if he said he was not happy, he would really pull out a knife and confront Xiao Nong. He hurriedly stopped him and said, "Don't, don't, don't do this, it's not that serious!"

After being interrupted by Wei Ling, Zhong Yansheng's worries were relieved a lot, and he thought of another thing instead.

Ding King is from the Xiao family. His ancestor married a princess of the royal family. The royal family is accustomed to treating the Xiao family as brothers, with a righteous face. Xiao Nong is not very old, but he is of a high generation. When Jing King and De King see Xiao Nong, they all have to call him Uncle King.

Under his current fake identity, he has to call Xiao Nong King Uncle.

So Xiao Nong is also his father's uncle...

Then according to seniority, Xiao Nong is actually his grandfather's generation?

Ah...it’s really big.

Zhong Yansheng didn't dare to think further.

Judging from his behavior in the main room and on the bed, Xiao Nong seemed to care a little about people being older than him, although he didn't mind much.

"Young Master?"

Wei Ling saw that Zhong Yansheng was daydreaming again, so he spoke cautiously, "Although Your Highness was once on good terms with the old Prince Ding, the current Prince Ding has a rather eccentric temperament. Do you want to hide your identity from him?"

Zhong Yansheng hesitated for a moment: "Don't say it yet."

Telling Xiao Nong his identity is equivalent to telling Xiao Nong that the person he hates for marriage is him.

He had to find a better opportunity to confess to Xiao Nong.

If Xiao Nong really doesn't like this engagement, then he should talk to Xiao Nong seriously and cancel the engagement.

It doesn't affect anything anyway. Xiao Nong has done all those things to him, so how can he just abandon him?

Zhong Yansheng was feeling very nervous and not very confident, not sure about Xiao Nong's attitude.

After all, if the thing on the back of his neck was really related to Xiao Nong, then the reason why Xiao Nong was so nice to him and so dependent on him might... have nothing to do with him.

As for what exactly happened, Lou Qingtang will have to find out.

Zhong Yansheng thought about it and made up his mind.

If Xiao Nong ignored him because of the engagement...next time Xiao Nong had a headache, he would not let Xiao Nong hug him and nibble on him.

Wei Ling responded respectfully, unaware that the young boy beside him was filled with secret thoughts.

Before this, Xiao Nong had always stuck to Zhong Yansheng, like a wolfhound guarding its food, not allowing anyone to get close to Zhong Yansheng. Wei Ling wanted to talk to Zhong Yansheng several times but had to swallow the words. Now he finally had the chance to talk to him.

"I just returned to my room and found something I want to give to the young master."

Zhong Yansheng came back to his senses: "What?"

"I have never opened it." Wei Ling lowered his eyes. "It is... the only thing I brought out of the fire when I led people to escape from the East Palace."

Zhong Yansheng's heart pounded.

If it was brought out from the Eastern Palace, could it be related to my parents?

Zhong Yansheng suddenly forgot everything and took two steps forward eagerly: "Take me to see it!"

Wei Ling's residence was a little far from here. On the way there, he reported his situation to Zhong Yansheng: "There were more than ten people who fled south with me. Several of them died over the years, leaving only a dozen people. The mountains have been uneasy these days. In addition to me, others have also led people out to patrol the forest. When I went out to bring Doctor Lou back during the day, I left a message for them. They must want to see the young master too."

Just as Zhong Yansheng was about to speak, Wei Ling whispered, "We have been hiding and have accomplished nothing. We are very ashamed. If it weren't for the severe cold at the beginning of the year, which caused countless people to freeze to death, and if the government hadn't been indifferent, we wouldn't have opened the granaries to release grain, exposing our tracks and having to hide in the forest..."

Zhong Yansheng felt that he was too modest: "You have been able to build Shuiyun Village to this point in just half a year, which is already amazing."

He also played the government officials around, hated them so much that he reported the matter to the court.

Wei Ling still felt ashamed: "In the past six months, we have robbed the goods of wealthy merchants several times, and transported them away from another road in the mountains to exchange for silver. I used part of the silver to repair the Shuiyun Village, reorganize the army, and train my men. I also used part of it to comfort the people and teach them to have enough food, clothing, and health. The rest was taken down the mountain by two brothers who are good at business to do business. Now it has improved a bit. If you need to withdraw money in the future, just let me know."

Zhong Yansheng nodded.

Wei Ling was obviously not lying, he was not greedy for enjoyment. The house of the leader of Shuiyun Village was so simple that it was a bit shabby.

There was a small wooden box on the table, with intricate and delicate carvings of auspicious clouds and phoenixes on it. It was obvious that it was quite old, but it must have been wiped from time to time and was well-preserved.

"This is the box in the Queen's room."

Wei Ling closed his eyes, as if the fire in the East Palace that day had ignited again in front of him. The Crown Princess lying in the flames and blood was already dead. He only had time to take this thing away in a hurry: "I have never opened it."

I dare not open it.

Zhong Yansheng looked at the box, blinked, and kept his fingertips on the lock for a long time before he carefully opened the lock of the box.

With a gentle "click", the things inside came into view, as if bringing back a bitter yet sweet old dream.

There was nothing priceless or exquisitely crafted in the box.

There were two pieces of calligraphy, with slightly different hand writings, one flowing and neat, the other elegant and graceful. There were also some small toys for children, such as pottery balls, Lu ban locks, Huarong Road, and even a small rattle... all scattered around, filled with the joy and love of the prince and princess who had just become parents. They couldn't help but put these things in before the child was born.

Those emotions seemed to be attached to the small things in the box and suddenly hit him in the face.

Zhong Yansheng felt a lump in his throat and was stunned for a long time before he reached out and opened the other box in the box.

Inside is a longevity lock, engraved with "long life without worries" and auspicious patterns, praying that the child wearing the longevity lock will be free from illness and disaster and grow up safely.

Wei Ling didn't expect these things to be inside. If it was a box full of gold, silver and jewelry, it wouldn't have shocked him so much. He was stunned for a long time, then he knelt down with a thud, lowered his head deeply, and barely squeezed out a few words from his throat: "I... am ashamed."

After escaping from the East Palace, all the secret guards have never left the fire for more than ten years.

During countless sleepless nights, they kept thinking, if they could have received the news earlier, gone to the Eastern Palace earlier, arrived earlier... perhaps the Empress would not have been frightened and given birth prematurely, the people in the Eastern Palace would not have been slaughtered, and the Empress would not have died of blood loss after giving birth without a doctor.

They feel ashamed to let down the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, and also ashamed to let down the young master.

After a while, Wei Ling heard a slight rustling sound, and then the boy patted his shoulder gently as if to comfort him. His voice was gentle and soft, and it had the power to blow away the ice and snow in people's hearts: "Don't do this, you have tried your best."

Wei Ling's eyes were red, but he didn't look up. Zhong Yansheng didn't force him to stand up. He hugged the small box tightly, stroked the lines, and asked him: "Wei Ling, what kind of people are my father and mother?"

Wei Ling said without hesitation: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is brilliant and talented. If not... he must be a wise ruler of all ages. Your Highness is also extremely talented and kind. It is my honor to serve you and your Highness."

After a pause, Wei Ling said, "The young master's eyes are very similar to your Highness's."

Zhong Yansheng subconsciously reached out and touched his eyes.

When in the palace, the old emperor would often stare into his eyes.

Under what circumstances did the old emperor have the mentality that he not only did not kill him but also kept him by his side, looking at the late crown prince through his eyes... or was he looking at the crown prince Kangwen who was similar to the late crown prince and had been lingering in his mind for many years?

The warmth that had just enveloped his heart was immediately replaced by a chill. Zhong Yansheng shuddered slightly and suddenly wanted to return to Xiao Nong as soon as possible. He stood up and said, "Thank you, Wei Ling. I want to go back first."

Wei Ling saw Zhong Yansheng's reliance on Xiao Nong, and hesitated for a moment before nodding: "Yes, it's time for me to organize the evacuation of the people and supplies in the village."

Zhong Yansheng hummed: "Be careful."

Zhong Yansheng carried the small box back. It was already dark, but he rarely felt scared. When he was about to reach the room to rest temporarily, he found Xiao Nong leaning against a tree trunk outside the house with his hands folded. Under the bright moonlight, his face was cold, and he seemed to be in a bad mood.

He had been gone for less than half an hour, and no one knew where His Royal Highness Prince Ding had someone find a new set of clothes. It was the same style as before, with bright colors, which were very eye-catching even at night, making his features look even more bold and handsome.

Zhong Yansheng ran to him with something in his arms, his eyes sparkling, "Brother, are you waiting for me?"

Xiao Nong's face was a little sour: "You still remember to come back? I thought you two were plotting to murder me."

"I was just gone for a little while."

Xiao Nong said in a gloomy tone: "After all, I am old. Don't you know that we old people like to think too much?"

“…”

Zhong Yansheng ignored his temper and rubbed his head against his chest, like a little bird rubbing its head against someone: "I went to get something from Wei Ling."

Zhong Yansheng usually speaks in a soft voice and is accused of being a spoiled child. Now he is really acting like a spoiled child, which makes people feel soft inside. Xiao Nong's cold face can no longer be held, and he snorted softly: "What is more important than the king waiting in the room?"

Zhong Yansheng said obediently: "My parents' relics."

Xiao Nong was silent for a moment, then reached out and pressed him into his arms.

“They left me a lot of stuff.”

Zhong Yansheng leaned over obediently, holding the thing in his arms so tightly that it almost hurt: "I'm very happy."

He rubbed against Xiao Nong's arms for a while, his hair all messed up, and he tilted his head back, his eyes sparkling, it was hard to tell if it was tears or the light in his eyes: "Brother, do you think they like me very much?"

Xiao Nong met those eyes, stroked his hair, and softened his voice: "Be good, no one will dislike you."

Zhong Yansheng originally wanted to ask "What about you?", but Xiao Nong looked at him with such gentle eyes that it seemed like he was asking a question he already knew the answer to.

He tilted his head and looked at Xiao Nong for a moment, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and gave Xiao Nong a light kiss on the face, catching him off guard.

The soft lips brushed across his cold cheeks, feeling as cool and smooth as silk.

Xiao Nong was stunned.

His Royal Highness Prince Ding rarely had such moments. Zhong Yansheng took advantage of his moment of stunned silence, lowered his head, bent over and nimbly got out of his arms, took a few steps back briskly, and reminded him: "Brother, Zhan Rong seems to have something to talk to you about."

Zhan Rong rushed over and saw the two people hugging each other. He immediately turned into an ice sculpture, squatting on the ground motionless, pretending that he didn't exist. Suddenly, he was called and his scalp tingled. "Master, the manpower has been arranged. The people of Shuiyun Village are spread all over the mountains and forests. They have found the locations of those waves of assassins. We should be able to catch them all tonight. I want to ask you about your other arrangements..."

After causing trouble, Zhong Yansheng rushed into the house, and Xiao Nong had to stay where he was to deal with some troublesome matters.

Xiao Nong has been unconscious these past few days, and the news from the outside world is unclear. Zhan Rong finally has time to report to Xiao Nong. After a few words, his scalp is getting more and more numb. Finally, he can't help but shiver with goose bumps and said weakly**: "Master, I have done something wrong. If you want to punish me, I am willing to accept it, but can you please stop smiling at me..."**

Xiao Nong raised his eyebrows and raised his hand to touch his lips. Only then did he realize that the corners of his mouth were raised, and he had been smiling without realizing it.

Just like a young boy who is in love for the first time and is unstable.

Zhan Rong had seen Xiao Nong's weird smiles and sneers many times, so facing Xiao Nong's... somewhat cheerful smile was really scary.

Xiao Nong was in a good mood. He touched the side of his face that was kissed by Zhong Yansheng and said indifferently, "Why are you staring at me instead of doing your job properly? Do you not want your eyes anymore?"

The familiar smell returned, and Zhan Rong breathed a sigh of relief. He continued, "The people in the mountain stronghold have already moved away at night. I sent a message saying that someone will come to pick them up. The officers and guards in the mountains are also being led here... It may be busy tonight."

Xiao Nong pressed his temples. There were a lot of things to do when he woke up.

But he was reluctant to let the little bastard who had sneaked into the house get tired. He had been frightened by his actions for the past two days, and his face had become thinner. His legs didn't feel as plump as they had been in the cave that day.

The bed board in this broken village was also hard. After kneeling for a while, Zhong Yansheng's knees turned red, and he kicked him several times.

A lot of delicate problems.

We must solve this problem as soon as possible and bring this child back to live in a soft and comfortable home.

Xiao Nong glanced in the direction of the house, then followed Zhan Rong out: "Let's go."

Zhan Rong was stunned for a moment: "You want to command it yourself?"

"Quick battle, quick decision." Xiao Nong said lazily, "It's better to hope that you, a bunch of useless people, can kill all the monkeys in the mountains before dawn than to hope that you can bite them to death in one night."

With Xiao Nong taking personal action, the operation that night was indeed much faster.

The first wave of assassins who were hiding in the mountains and forests and still wandering around searching for the whereabouts of Zhong Yansheng and Xiao Nong and waiting for an opportunity to kill the two were quickly caught.

They followed the waterfall and found the direction close to Shuiyun Village, but the terrain outside Shuiyun Village was extremely complicated. After circling for two days, they were still in the same place. When they were first discovered by the people of Shuiyun Village and pinned down by the Black Armor Guards and Wei Ling's men, this group of people had just hunted prey and was preparing to eat.

Zhan Rong asked: "Master, do you want to ask a question?"

"No need, their tongues have been cut off." Xiao Nong checked the two people and said indifferently, "Kill them all."

Before dawn, hundreds of people from Shuiyun Village had evacuated, leaving only a few. Zhong Yansheng did not wait for Xiao Nong to come back, and wrapped himself in a thin quilt and managed to sleep for a while. When he opened his eyes again, the Black Armored Army and the bandits had returned, covered in blood, dragging corpses.

Zhong Yansheng was holding a small box. Hearing the noise outside, he poked his head out and wanted to ask the secret guards outside what the situation was like, but his head was covered by an outer robe.

Xiao Nong washed his hands and led him out, "It's dirty, don't look."

The vision was blocked, but the strong smell of blood could not conceal it. One could roughly guess what the scene outside was like.

Zhong Yansheng silently let go of the hand that was lifting his clothes, and let him hold his hand, walking around the assassins' corpses on the ground and walking out: "Are you ready to burn down the village?"

Xiao Nong carried a cool breath from the woods, mixed with a hint of blood: "Yeah."

"Then let Wei Ling and the others evacuate Shuiyun Village first."

Zhong Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "They may not like to see a big fire."

"Okay." Xiao Nong said, "Another group of monkeys will be attracted here in a while."

Zhong Yansheng thought about it for a while before realizing that he was probably scolding the officers and soldiers of Baoqing Prefecture, the soldiers of the Fifth Army Camp, and Huo Shuang and the others.

"Brother, after meeting them, should we prepare to return to Beijing?"

Xiao Nong held his hand, which was not warm, but slender and strong. He led him around a pile of corpses and approached the direction of the village. He hummed again, "It's time to go back."

Zhong Yansheng had a thin silk robe covering his head. A fire was burning behind him, and a hot wind was blowing. Through the fire, he could see a tall figure walking in front of him. He pursed his lips.

If they return to the capital, they will not be able to hold hands like this on the surface, because the old emperor will not let them enter and leave the palace at will.

He had to finish drawing his little man before returning to Beijing and teach his brother how to sleep with him.

Xiao Nong suddenly paused, turned around and asked as if he couldn't hold it in any longer, "Why did you kiss me secretly before?"

He asked confidently, and Zhong Yansheng almost felt that the person who kissed him so hard that he couldn't breathe was not him. He paused for a moment and said aggrievedly: "...You kissed me so many times."

Behind him, a fire shot up to the sky. A fierce wind suddenly blew, blowing away the outer robe that covered Zhong Yansheng's head, revealing his handsome face. Xiao Nong came over without knowing when, and looked at him with half-closed eyes. His handsome face looked like a demon in the flickering firelight. Then he held his chin, lowered his head and licked and kissed him: "You're right, it won't be too late this time."

By the time Huo Shuang arrived with his guards and two generals from the Fifth Army Camp, the fire was no longer as fierce as it was at the beginning.

It was dawn and the cold dew was deep. Xiao Nong carried Zhong Yansheng to a big rock, and he sat there obediently. His lips were red, and he was still wearing Xiao Nong's outer robe to keep warm. He swung his legs bored and the longevity lock on his neck that read "Long Life and No Worries" swayed.

Xiao Nong stood by with his hands folded, looking coldly at the group of people coming over breathlessly, then knelt down with a thud: "I am late, causing the young prince and Prince Ding to fall into such a dangerous situation, I deserve to be put to death!"

Xiao Nong said indifferently: "What a bunch of rubbish! If you come any later, the den of thieves would have been burned down."

Everyone's scalps tightened under his stare and they dared not say a word.

This forest stretches across several hills. It is too big and too deep, and the roads inside are too winding. Thousands of them searched inside and outside the forest for several days, but not only did they fail to find the two missing princes, they didn't even find the shadow of the bandits. In the end, the Black Armor Army had to go ahead and contact Xiao Nong to solve the problem of this den of thieves.

After going through so much trouble to come all the way from the capital, he ended up doing nothing. All the work was left to Xiao Nong and the little prince.

Where is the face left!

Zhong Yansheng spoke up to try to make peace with them in a good-tempered manner: "It's not your fault. For the past two days, His Royal Highness Prince Ding and I have been hiding in the bandit's lair. We finally contacted the Black Armor Guards and attacked them from the inside. If you had come with a large army, it would have alerted the bandits. This place is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It's also thanks to the noise you made in the forest that you attracted the bandits' attention."

It was unclear whether the last sentence was a curse or a compliment, but overall the young prince's words were gentle and considerate, which helped the embarrassed and angry generals regain some face and feel better. "Thank you, young prince, for your tolerance!"

Zhong Yansheng pondered for a long time before he came up with this statement. Seeing that they had no doubts, he felt satisfied.

Thanks to his cleverness, he and Xiao Nong played the good guy and the bad guy respectively, and their cooperation was perfect!

Huo Shuang was the one who knew the most about what happened among the group. He cooperated by putting on an expression of "I see". He stood up and said, "The rest of the aftermath will be left to the generals. The carriage to pick up the two princes is already waiting outside the forest. Please come in."

Wei Ling and others could not be exposed, so they hid back in the darkness, waiting for Zhong Yansheng's call.

Zhong Yansheng glanced into the dark forest, nodded, and wanted to jump down from the big rock. Xiao Nong raised his hand, held his waist, and put him to the ground in accordance with the principle of handling him with care.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Zhong Yansheng said calmly: "Thank you, Uncle. I've troubled you to take care of me these past few days."

Xiao Nong also smiled at him politely: "This prince is much older than your Highness, so it's only natural."

“…”

Are all older people so fussy?

As he followed the people who cleared the way down the mountain, Zhong Yansheng secretly glanced at Xiao Nong, who had a cold face whenever an outsider appeared.

Before Xiao Nong came back with the disguised corpse at night, he learned from the secret guard hanging outside that the Mid-Autumn Festival in a few days would be Xiao Nong's birthday.

On his birthday, Xiao Nong gave him a xun music and a grand iron flower ceremony. On Xiao Nong's birthday, he only gave him a book of pictures of little people, and he was going to draw some not-so-decent pictures in it... Wouldn't that be a bit bad?

But he drew both of them very beautifully.

What he is best at is painting, so he could only think of giving this to Xiao Nong.

By the way, he will confess his identity to Xiao Nong and tell him that he knows Xiao Nong doesn't like things that restrict him, so the engagement will be based on his will and will not count.

My brother will definitely be very happy.

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