CH 83

In the evening, an autumn wind blew across the grassland, as the setting sun sank down and cast a red glow over half of the sky. In the distance, the mountains were bathed in golden light, adding to their majestic beauty.

Xie Chaoyuan was leading his troops back to the camp when he saw this scene. He stopped his horse to admire it for a moment, and then suddenly galloped forward.

Two quarters of an hour later, he returned with a live black marten in his hand. The marten was entirely black and shiny without any impurities. Xie Chaoyuan threw it to his attendant behind him and said, “Make a warm scarf with the fur and send it to the King Xing’s Mansion in the northwest.”

The attendant, who was used to Xie Chaoyuan’s behavior, took the precious black marten carefully and put it in a cage.

In the past two years, Xie Chaoyuan had sent many things to the northwest army, often ordering his men to send whatever good things he saw. His trusted aides were all aware of this.

When he returned to the camp, it was already dark, and the campfires were burning brightly. The smell of food filled the air. Xie Chaoyuan went back to his tent and Wang Rang came in to report on some trivial matters. However, Xie Chaoyuan was absent-minded and kept rubbing the jade pendant in his hand, remaining silent for a long time.

Three years ago, after the death of the Xirong king, the various khans and princes of the Xirong fought each other for the throne, resulting in the fragmentation of Xirong. Xie Chaoyuan, with the help of the living Buddha, quickly established his prestige in the Xirong and then led his troops to establish his own power in a place closest to the capital, gradually incorporating several neighboring tribes into his sphere of influence. His territory expanded, and he became one of the biggest princes in Xirong.

Moreover, he never allowed his subordinates to entertain the idea of attacking Daliang. If other Xirong tribes went to the border of Daliang to burn, kill and plunder, he would take his troops over to beat them up first. Despite this, the Xirong people under his rule had a good life due to friendly trade with the capital, mutual benefit, and the fact that they were now one of the largest tribes.

“Little prince, the court has issued an edict allowing us to open another market in the nearest city to us, Hucheng. In the future, our people will no longer have to travel long distances to do business with Daliang. This will save manpower and resources, and our business will surely thrive!” A subordinate came in to report the news they had just received, his face filled with excitement.

Xie Chaoyuan seemed to have known this would happen and said, “That’s great. Let’s prepare and check our goods, and go there before winter. After we finish our business, everyone can have a good year.”

“Yes! I will arrange things right away!”

After the person left, Xie Chaoyuan leaned back on the couch to rest, and Wang Rang whispered to him, “Your Highness, Hucheng is a fortress in the northwest of Daliang, and it is absolutely impossible for it to become a place for mutual trade. Is it because the people on this side is you that the Crown Prince agreed to this?”

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t open his eyes and slightly curved his lips, “Maybe.”

The Crown Prince was willing to open up mutual trade here because he trusted Xie Chaoyuan, and he knew it.

As the night fell, Xie Chaoyuan couldn’t sleep. Holding a jug of wine, he walked out of the tent and looked up to see the stars shining in the sky and the full moon hanging high. He realized it was August 15th.

Xirong didn’t celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, so there was no one to remind him.

After spending so long in this barbaric land, he often lost track of time. Xie Chaoyuan took a sip of the wine and felt the fiery taste burning his throat. He wondered what Xie Chaoling was doing at this moment.

For the past three years, he often sent gifts to Daliang, and they would also send good things to him. The wine he was drinking now was his favorite tribute wine from before, but that was all. They were like rivals, neither writing to the other. They both wanted the other to take the initiative.

Xie Chaoling had been serving as the Crown Prince of Daliang all this time. He had not married, and his second prospective crown princess died two years ago. After that, he delayed his life’s major events, citing the Emperor’s illness and the busy state affairs, and refused to respond to anyone in the court. The officials in the Daliang court could not understand what the nominal Crown Prince, who was the quasi-Emperor with real power, was thinking.

But Xie Chaoyuan knew that on the day of their farewell, Xie Chaoling told him to believe him, and now he truly believed that his Crown Prince brother did not lie to him.

Today was August 15th, and he should be attending the banquet in the palace on behalf of the Emperor.

Thinking of this, Xie Chaoyuan couldn’t help but sneer. Xie Chaoling was probably going to be forced to drink again, but without him around, he probably wouldn’t get drunk so easily.

Late at night, after Xie Chaoyuan had finished his simple washing and was about to sleep, he received a big piece of news that had just arrived.

The Emperor of Daliang had passed away, just three days ago.

Xie Chaoyuan paused for a moment, asking, “What about the Crown Prince?”

Naturally, he succeeded the throne, there was no doubt about that. After hearing what the servant said, Xie Chaoyuan nodded, “I understand.”

From now on, his Crown Prince brother was also his Emperor brother.

This was good, he had finally achieved his wish.

Xie Chaoyuan stared at the flickering candle on the candlestick and laughed silently for a while.

At midnight, Xie Chaoling woke up from his sleep and couldn’t fall back asleep. He got up, put on his clothes, and went to the ancestral hall.

Xie Huizhen was also there, kneeling in front of the emperor’s memorial tablet, burning paper and muttering something. Xie Chaoling walked closer to him, but he didn’t notice. Xie Chaoling quietly stood behind him and listened for a while, finally understanding that this little guy was actually telling his grandfather about his true identity.

It wasn’t until Xie Huizhen finished speaking that Xie Chaoling cleared his throat. Xie Huizhen was startled and quickly stood up. When he turned around and saw Xie Chaoling, he looked embarrassed and was about to bow, but Xie Chaoling stopped him.

The two of them knelt down together in front of the memorial tablet. Xie Chaoling also took a stack of yellow paper and threw them into the brazier one by one. The firelight reflected on his calm face as he asked, “Why did you specifically tell your grandfather?”

Xie Huizhen replied awkwardly, “I just wanted him to know that I’m not really a girl, so he wouldn’t be confused and forget that he still has a grandson like me.”

Xie Chaoling didn’t press the issue and asked, “What are your plans for the future? You’re still young enough to pass as a girl, but what about in a few years? You can’t hide your true identity forever, especially since you still have a marriage contract with the Xiao Mansion.”

“Well, I can always fake my death to escape,” Xie Huizhen thought for a moment and turned to Xie Chaoling. “Please give me some guidance, Fifth Uncle.”

“Be my son,” Xie Chaoling said straightforwardly. “I will give you the identity of a collateral branch of the imperial family with the status of an orphan. You can use your real name, and then I will adopt you.”

Xie Huizhen slowly moved his eyes and seemed surprised, but his reaction was much calmer than Xie Chaoling had expected.

“You don’t seem very surprised?” Xie Chaoling raised an eyebrow.

Xie Huizhen whispered, “I had a feeling.”

For the past few years, Xie Chaoling had let him live in the palace, assigned the best teachers to teach him, and gave him much more than the treatment of a county princess. Xie Chaoling himself refused to marry and didn’t even have a concubine by his side, showing no interest in expanding his family.

Xie Huizhen was not a fool, Xie Chaoling’s intentions were actually quite clear.

“You’re very smart. If you have any questions, just ask,” Xie Chaoling said.

Xie Huizhen gritted his teeth and said, “I went to a gathering of female relatives outside the palace a few days ago and saw that the wife of the Marquis of Pingxi and the former Crown Princess, who was engaged to you, looked exactly alike. They said they were sisters, but I always felt like they’re the same person. Do you know anything about it, Fifth Uncle?”

“Mmm.” Xie Chaoling admitted in a plain voice that he learned from his father that he allowed his second prospective consort to fake her death and marry her childhood sweetheart.

“…Is Fifth Uncle unwilling to marry because of Sixth Uncle?”

“Yes.” Xie Chaoling did not want to lie. He did these things because of Xie Chaoyuan.

Xie Huizhen thought to himself, “As expected.” “Will Sixth Uncle come back?”

“He will,” Xie Chaoling said plainly, “and it should be soon.”

Xie Huizhen sighed, “But even so, why did Fifth Uncle choose me? Aside from the trouble of my identity, I’m only ten years younger than uncle, not a suitable candidate. Fifth Uncle could adopt a child from another household and slowly teach them. If he’s afraid that their talent is not good enough, he can choose a few more and then pick the most outstanding one in the future.”

“You have no other forces behind you,” Xie Chaoling said bluntly, “I don’t want any trouble.”

The former crown prince’s child was a daughter, so Xie Huizhen, who had no parents and was from a collateral branch, would be adopted by him and became his son, with no connection to the old Eastern Palace and no other royal households behind him, to avoid any unwanted thoughts from those with malicious intentions.

“Moreover, starting from a child who doesn’t know anything is too tiring. I don’t have that patience. If I teach a few ignorant and arrogant, stupid and bad ones like your second uncle, or crazy like your fourth uncle, I’m afraid I’ll be angry and won’t live long. I still want to live for a few more years and enjoy some carefree days.”

Xie Huizhen did not expect to receive such an answer and was truly surprised this time. The emperor, Fifth Uncle, was actually like this… Was this really his personality?

Xie Chaoling lightly patted his shoulder and said, “Don’t think too much. Just do what needs to be done. I will always protect you.”

Xie Huizhen hesitated and asked, “Can I keep my identity as the son of fifth uncle and Leping Princess?”

Xie Chaoling was slightly surprised and asked, “Why?”

“Sometimes it’s more convenient to do things with the identity of a daughter,” Xie Huizhen said with a mischievous smile. “At least wait until I reach the age of 15.”

“When you reach 15, it’s time for you to get married,” Xie Chaoling reminded him. “Where can I find a granddaughter-in-law for King Xiao’s Mansion?”

Xie Huizhen shrugged and said, “Let’s worry about that later. Besides, even if Princess Leping is gone now, fifth uncle still has to find a granddaughter-in-law for King Xiao’s Mansion.”

This matter sounded strange, but one more princess wouldn’t make much of a difference. Xie Chaoling could afford it, so he waved his hand and said, “Do as you wish.”

Xie Huizhen immediately kowtowed and thanked him.

Today was the last night that the Great Emperor’s coffin would be placed in the palace. Tomorrow would be the day of the funeral. At three in the morning, Xie Chaoling asked Xie Huizhen to go to bed first, and he stayed in the hall for another two hours before returning to his bedroom.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather turned cold. Xie Chaoling didn’t feel sleepy, so he stood by the window, wrapped in a big cloak, and stared at the distant lights outside the palace.

Wang Jin was on night duty and brought in a few eunuchs to light a charcoal brazier for him. “It’s been cold these past few days. If Your Majesty still feels cold, I will have the furnace turned on.”

Xie Chaoling didn’t say anything and continued to stand by the window, gazing out into the endless night.

“Your Majesty, it’s very late. You should rest. You have to get up early tomorrow,” Wang Jin whispered to him.

After a moment of silence, Xie Chaoling suddenly spoke up and asked him, “Did the things sent from the northwest arrive today? Bring them to me.”

The things had been delivered in the afternoon, but he had been busy with state affairs and the funeral of the Great Emperor, so he hadn’t had a chance to look at them.

Wang Jin went to fetch the things and brought them to Xie Chaoling. Xie Chaoling took the package and felt the warm fur of a black marten wrap around his hand, thick and soft, quickly warming his cold palms.

Xie Chaoyuan always manages to provide what he needs most at the right time, which is really thoughtful.

Wang Jinsh said, “The little prince probably knows that it’s getting cold, and Your Majesty is sensitive to cold, so this thing was delivered at the right time.”

Xie Chaoling glanced at him and smiled, “You’re speaking up for him now.”

Wang Jin raised his hand and slapped his mouth, “This servant spoke too much, Your Majesty, please don’t be angry.”

Xie Chaoling didn’t bother to say anything and signaled his attendants to help him change into night clothes. He laid down on the bed and asked them to turn off the lights and leave.

He had spent two winters with Xie Chaoyuan. On cold nights, Xie Chaoyuan always held him in his arms, using his body warmth to keep him warm. Even though Xie Chaoyuan was his younger brother, he often took care of him in every way possible.

Although that person was a domineering b*stard, he only had him in his heart and eyes. He had never experienced such intense love, so he easily fell for him.

They had been apart for three years, and he didn’t know how many more cold nights he would have to endure before they could reunite. Xie Chaoyuan said he would come to find him, and he had been waiting for him the entire time.

In the darkness, Xie Chaoling turned over and finally closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. 

The hand warmer that Xie Chaoyuan had sent was still held tightly in his arms.