CH 71

Edited – Zaki

Teng Yun had to walk over, and Xue Junliang repeated his words with a smile, “Haven’t you gone back to rest yet?” 

Teng Yun said, “I was just about to go back.”

“I dare feel that I disturbed Teng Ying’s rest.”

Perhaps it was because Teng Yun had drunk too much wine, so he surprisingly didn’t follow the usual decorum. The usual sentence “this lowly subject does not dare” was not said.

Xue Junliang put his hand on the railing and said, “It’s good to drink some wine and enjoy the breeze.” Then he turned his head and said, “Are you cold? Ask Rui Xue to bring you a cloak.” 

Teng Yun shook his head and said, “There is no need. This lowly subject is not so delicate.”

Xue Junliang was stunned for a moment. Looking at Teng Yun’s face, he seemed to be a little distracted. He couldn’t help lifting his hand and gently stroke Teng Yun’s cheek. Then he smiled and said, “I forgot that Teng Ying is a General and had once led an army to the Ming River. ”

Teng Yun just stood still, feeling the hand on his cheeks; probably because his mind was a little dazed, and his head was overwhelmed with alcohol. Xue Junliang’s palm was a little hot, and his hand lingered on Teng Yun’s cheeks, but he didn’t even move.

Rui Xue was smart enough to retreat outside the small pavilion and wait.

Xue Junliang’s hand didn’t do anything else. He put down his hand and suddenly said, “After today, Xue Changjing has no reason to stay in the Capital. I want to send someone to retrieve the military power. It’s impossible to rest assured that Xue Yu can go alone…..”

He said and glanced at Teng Yun, then smiled: “However, in my heart I can’t bear for you to go out of the Capital again.”

Teng Yun turned his head, as if looking out of the pavilion again, but obviously his eyes were out of focus. He just didn’t like Xue Junliang talking like that.

Xue Junliang said, “As far as I am concerned, for now, I can only focus on the overall situation of the country and personal affairs. I hope you can go and return soon.” 

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,” Teng Yun said, “I will be just going to receive the military troops, not to the battlefields.”

Xue Junliang nodded, “Let Teng Shang go with you, if there is anything, you have someone there to discuss things with…… I know you trust Teng Shang, although he refused to be a court official, he will certainly help you.”

Teng Yun also nodded, and they had nothing to say further.

—— 

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When Xue Junliang opened his eyes, he saw Teng Yun frozen with a crimson face, smiled and said, “Teng Ying was thinking about something early in the morning?”

Teng Yun’s thoughts were seen through and he hurriedly got up to dress. He didn’t seem to have any discomfort in his body. 

Xue Junliang laughed and said, “Don’t worry. After all, I’m a Monarch. I won’t do anything while people are drunk.”

After he finished speaking, he called out for Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu and Rui Xue came in, respectfully dressed Emperor Xue and Teng Yun, washed them, and went to the front.

After the Morning Court, Teng Yun went to Marquis Wannian’s residence. Xue Houyang was away handling official business at the Military Office. Teng Shang was alone in the residence.

Naturally, Teng Yun had come here to ask Teng Shang to accompany him to Marquis Zheng An’s territory to receive the military troops. 

Teng Yun did not want to ask Teng Shang to come out, because Teng Yun knew that Teng Shang’s idea was different from his own. He could marry a man for the sake of building up Teng Country. His heart only yearned for a strong country, but now Teng country was annexed. Teng Yun couldn’t guess whether Teng Shang was willing to go out for the sake of another country.

Teng Shang seemed to be a little surprised to see Teng Yun. He asked Teng Yun to sit down and asked the servant to pour a good brew of tea. Teng Shang smiled and said, “Emperor Xue is willing to let you go out of the Palace?”

Teng Yun’s face was embarrassed for a moment, and he responded vaguely, saying, “Actually, I came this time to say goodbye to my uncle.”

“I suppose Emperor Xue is sending you somewhere again?” 

Teng Yun nodded and said, “That’s right.”

Teng Shang didn’t say anything after that, picked up the tea bowl and blew on the leaves, took a sip, seemed to be very leisurely, and smiled, “Emperor Xue seems to have something in his mind, I’m afraid you haven’t said it yet.”

“I can’t hide anything from my uncle…”

Teng Yun continued: “There is indeed something, but I do not want to make things difficult for you.” 

Teng Shang said: “I’ve already guessed it. Knowing Emperor Xue’s temperament, how can he let you leave so easily? He’s obviously worried. No matter how different the reasons are before and now, in short, he’s worried about you being away for too long. Naturally, he wants to find someone or something to let you come back early. If I follow you, Marquis Wannian would ask me to rush back. Things will be done quickly, and you will naturally come back early.”

Teng Yun was a little shaken when he heard Teng Shang’s ambiguous words. Did Teng Shang already know what Emperor Xue thought about himself?

As he thought till here, Teng Yun didn’t know what he was feeling in his heart, but it was a very complicated feeling.

Teng Shang took in Teng Yun’s expressions in his eyes and knew that Teng Yun was very simple in his thoughts. If he really didn’t care, how could he take it to heart? He wouldn’t care about this kind of thing. If he cared, then it proved its importance in his mind. 

Teng Shang did not want to make things difficult for him, after all, Teng country’s affairs had long passed, and the hurdle in his heart had been long moved by Xue Houyang that it no longer remained.

Teng Shang deliberately pretended to be surprised and said: “What happened to your neck, are there insects in the Palace? Is this how Yunfeng Palace is cleaned?”

At first, Teng Yun touched his neck with his fingers. He couldn’t see what was wrong on his neck, but his hands felt a little itchy and tingling. Teng Yun was still a person who had seen this world. How could he not know what it was? At that moment, he was extremely embarrassed.

Teng Shang changed the subject at this time and said, “Naturally, I will go with you.” 

Teng Yun was about to say something when Teng Shang said again, “Don’t worry about it, if it’s something I don’t want to do, even for the deepest friendship I won’t do it, since it’s something I’m willing to do, you don’t have to care too much about it.”

Teng Shang asked Teng Yun to stay for lunch. After lunch, Rui Xue came over and said with a smile, “Master, His Majesty wants you to go back to discuss business.”

Teng Shang naturally knew that Xue Junliang hadn’t seen his special someone for a long time and hence he was anxious again. So Teng Shang deliberately took it easy and kept Teng Yun back for a while before he let him go.

Xue Junliang didn’t really have anything to discuss with Teng Yun, but since Teng Yun had been out of the Palace all morning, he was just anxious to have him return. Although he knew that the relationship between Teng Shang and Teng Yun was only that of an uncle and nephew, they had a strong relationship. Teng Yun’s Martial Arts and Military Skills were all taught by Teng Shang. Teng Yun’s respect and admiration for Teng Shang was only out of family affection. 

But Xue Junliang couldn’t help but secretly drink vinegar in his heart. When he came to know that Teng Shang was Teng Yun’s closest confidant, he couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable in his heart.

Xue Junliang always felt that he was capable and qualified as an Emperor. Only now did he understand that there were people who could make him out of control or anxious. He was quite capable, but he didn’t recognize this person.

Teng Yun came to see Xue Junliang, Xue Junliang smoothly said, “In fact, the reason for calling back Teng Ying was for you to accompany me to visit the Crown Prince.”

Teng Yun had no objection. They went there together. The Prince’s class had been dismissed for lunch at noon and had not yet started the afternoon reading. 

Xue Pei did not treat Teng Yun well when he saw him, nor did the three He brothers.

Xue Junliang asked Shen Yi about the Prince’s recent situation, Shen Yi naturally had to praise the Prince, indeed the Prince was also very smart.

Xue Junliang said, “Pei’er makes this Seat very pleased.”

After a pause, the conversation changed directions and Xue Junliang said: “This time, there is another thing… This Seat wants to ask three people for Teng Ying to manage from Pei’er.” 

When Xue Pei heard this, he understood that he was asking for the three He brothers, so he smiled and said, “Father Emperor doesn’t know this but the three He brothers are stubborn and reckless. They are only loyal to the Empress. Now that Empress mother has died. I’m afraid there is no one who can motivate them and change their allegiance.”

The three He brothers also acted righteously and echoed Xue Pei’s words. They were very straight laced and their nature was simple. They didn’t think they would be incurring Xue Junliang’s wrath if they did not comply with the Emperor’s wishes.

Teng Yun said: “In fact, Although the business of this lowly subject is not as dangerous as going to the battlefields, it has its own weight. This lowly subject is not assured to let the three of them follow.”

He Zhong listened to his words with some contempt. He was immediately unhappy and said, “What do you know? When I was a General, I’m afraid you were still a young baby that was nursing!” 

Teng Yun was not angry, instead he laughed and said: “That’s true, but I know a lot… The three brothers did a lot of heroic feats and were brave warriors but they became bandits and were recruited by the Empress. I didn’t expect that they would be happy to be a small bodyguard now. But it is indeed easier than being a lowly bandit. They don’t have to rob families on the road or be afraid of the law enforcement. Looks like the ambition and fire has been gradually smoothened and dulled out. Now even if you went to the battlefields, would you be really able to kill the enemies?”

After hearing this, He Zhong, regardless of Xue Junliang’s presence, scolded: “Bullshit, this old master’s blade is born to kill the enemy and never just for pleasure!”

“Good.”

At this time, Xue Junliang smiled and said, “Then I’ll make you three Assistant Generals. You can showcase your skills to Teng Ying so that he can be impressed by your skills.” 

The three of them did not think too much and bowed to receive the decree at once.

———

After Xue Junliang and Teng Yun echoed each other and showed their matrimonial harmony. Later, they returned to the Main hall and convened the Ministers to discuss the time of departure. Teng Yun and three He brothers set out in the name of escorting the new Marquis Zheng An.

Teng Yun didn’t bring many people because this time he was going to retrieve military troops and not to fight. Moreover, he was afraid that Xue Changjing would feel something was wrong. It wouldn’t look good if Teng Yun had been prepared long, so the preparation time wasn’t too long and he set off soon. 

Although Xue Changjing was interested in Teng Yun, however, Teng Yun was Emperor Xue’s person. Emperor Xue’s attitude had already been expressed clearly. Xue Changjing no longer asked for trouble, especially when he was now married to the Feng Princess, who had been spoiled since childhood and had to be coaxed when travelling long distances.

Xue Changjing was into men. Naturally after drinking the nuptial wine, he couldn’t do anything. Fortunately, he was good at clever words and expressions and coaxed the Princess without any suspicion. Xue Changjing thought, when they reached the fiefdom, which was far away from Feng Country, the Princess would not have any support and he would no longer have to be afraid. So he silently endured for the time being.

Teng Shang followed Teng Yun, and the speed of the team was not slow. Officials along the way knew that these people were Emperor Xue’s favoured people, so naturally they did not dare to neglect, but the team was eager to hurry, and they all passed by in a hurry.

When the fief came, Xue Changjing’s second brother, the second son of Marquis Zheng an  came to greet them. Because the Imperial edict announcing the distribution of power had come long ago, the sons of Marquis Zheng An had all received favour, and everyone was assigned military power and land. Naturally, they were overjoyed. When they heard that the Capital had sent an envoy, they naturally had to curry favour.