CH 24.2

In the original book, it was written that the real pinnacle of power was a master of pen and sword. The literary could only be a strategist, and the military could only be a general. However, Lin Bozhou could control the ministers in the court and lead the army to kill the enemy, a perfectly qualified person in power.

For example, later on in the book, he conquered the original host, who was raising an army in Jianzhouwei, and personally led the army.

Meng Huan mentally said: Luckily, I did not take the road of assassinating Lin Bozhou.

Perhaps he hadn’t even moved the knife, and it was already seized to turn on him.

But thinking about it, Meng Huan was a little remorseful.

—What’s the use of having me?

“Have all the people arrived?” Lin Bozhou said, “Let’s go if they have arrived.”

Chen An replied, “Your Majesty, Luo Qianhu* has not yet arrived.”

*Qianhu: an official name established in the Jin Dynasty. It was a hereditary military position.

Lin Bozhou raised his eyes and frowned with impatience. Right before he was about to reprimand, several figures came hurrying along at the end of the road, leading a gorgeous white stallion and sweating profusely.

The young man at the head was tall and upright, and his eyebrows had some of the bright unruliness of someone practicing martial arts. He squeezed the whip, sweat rolling off his forehead, and said in front of Lin Bozhou with a sweaty head, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Meng Huan recognized him at first.

This was the son of the capital army commander he had just met the night he transmigrated into the book. Luo Juan, who became an official due to favor, was already a Qianhu among the Brocade Uniform Guard at a young age— although, he was now responsible for holding the horse for Lin Bozhou.

Luo Juan patted the horse’s butt with his broad hand. “This Akhal-Teke horse* is taken from the Court of Imperial Stud, and it’s the strongest one. Sigh, the day is so hot, making this subordinate tired.”

*Akhal-Teke horse: one of the oldest and most unique horse breeds, known for their speed and endurance.

Lin Bozhou’s tone was relieved. “Why don’t you ride the horse over?”

“Forget it.” Luo Juan said, “My father will scold me for being unruly.”

He noticed Meng Huan and raised his hand. “Greetings to the Princess.”

“……”

For some reason, Meng Huan’s socially scared soul started to kick in when he saw a big fierce man.

Subsequently and subconsciously, he took a step behind Lin Bozhou to hide.

Poking his head out, he looked around without knowing what to say.

The corners of Lin Bozhou’s lips curved slightly, and his hand gently held him back, changing the subject. “Huan Huan, look. What do you think about this horse?”

Horses were an important part of the cavalry and belonged to the military supplies; they were equivalent to a weapon on the battlefield. Lin Bozhou’s tone was like a connoisseur player who had just gotten a beautiful accomplishment and was casually sharing it with his boyfriend.

Meng Huan looked at the horse. The white body revealed a slight pink color. Perhaps the blood vessels expanded after the exercise, and the white skin vaguely exuded the red blood. Its muscle were distinct, its shoulder was higher than an adult man, and the feeling of a mighty steed erupted from its posture.

Luo Juan rambled, “This Akhal-Teke horse is a tribute from the Stone Kingdom and is a purebred. There are only five horses in the capital city. It could jump several zhang* in a leap, and its shoulder—”

*Zhang: ten Chinese feet (3.3 m).

From the bottom of his heart, Meng Huan said, “So cute.”

“?”

Luo Juan stopped talking.

Seeing a horse for the first time, Meng Huan looked up and down and couldn’t help but want to touch it but was afraid of being kicked by the horse. He looked at Lin Bozhou with bright eyes, “This horse is so cute!”

Luo Juan: “???”

He wanted to say: Wait a moment, Your Highness. We usually refer to horses as partners.

They are members of the battlefield.

Please don’t use the word ‘cute’ to tarnish our soldiers—

Lin Bozhou’s eyes darkened slightly. He bowed his head, and the corners of his lips raised inexplicably as he talked to himself as if giving up. “Okay, it’s cute then……”

Not hearing the implication between the two, Meng Huan was quite excited. “Can I touch it?”

“Yes.”

Meng Huan reached out tentatively and immediately took it back, hesitating. “Will it kick me?”

This big hoof, one kick can kill me, right?

“Maybe,” Lin Bozhou’s voice was soft, “Most horses with intelligence are violent and will not be easily tamed.”

“Oh.”

Meng Huan regretfully withdrew his hand. “Then I’d better—”

The words “not touch” had not been uttered, but Lin Bozhou had taken a step forward, his bony fingers holding the reins and pulling the horse’s head to the side.

The horse, which appeared noble and exceptional at first glance, looked unusually docile after being pulled by him, pacing in place.

“When I took this horse for hunting during the spring outing, it was tamed at that time, and it recognized this prince.” Lin Bozhou’s tone was calm as if he was talking about a trivial matter. “Huan Huan, come here. This prince will hold it for you.”

Meng Huan was stunned in place.

His concept of hierarchy was much weaker than the people here, but sensing the stagnant atmosphere around him, he probably knew that Lin Bozhou holding his horse for him was a matter of giving him face; it was as if green smoke came out of his ancestor’s grave*.

*To say that someone is very lucky.

Meng Huan licked his lips. “This is inappropriate, right……”

“Come here.” Lin Bozhou did not care.

Meng Huan approached apprehensively. His hand was taken up by Lin Bozhou, and he reached for the stallion’s forehead.

Lin Bozhou’s hand was not so cold. His palm was slightly hot, and he caught Meng Huan’s fingertips. His palm tightened slightly to protect his hand, and he slowly put it on the horse’s head.

The touch of the dense mane was a bit painful.

But more distinctly, the heat on the back of his hand penetrated the bone marrow along the skin, making Meng Huan’s whole hand feel electrocuted, soft, numb, and lose its strength.

Lin Bozhou leaned behind him, and his voice was melodious. “Do you like it?”

This kind of bass, with a subtle vibration of the chest, entered the eardrums, making Meng Huan’s back stiffen, and he somehow recalled the image he saw in his sleep that night.

…… Inexplicably, his heart seemed to shrink very small and feel unbearably cramped.

Meng Huan stared at the horse and blushed.

Lin Bozhou looked at him with a pleasant expression.

Behind them, Luo Juan frowned and bumped Shan Xing beside him. “Did you feel it?”

Shan Xing: “I feel it.”

“How long has His Highness been like this?”

Shan Xing rubbed his chin. “It’s been a while.”

“Tch.” Luo Juan’s gallant eyebrows wrinkled up. “I really can’t look at these love affairs.”

Shan Xing smiled and laughed with a somewhat emotional look. “It’s also a good thing.”

Their prince seemed to be a little more humane.

Luo Juan tidied up a bit and said, “Let’s go. Keep watching how His Highness coaxes his wife.”

——————–

Baby Huan: I really hate this kind of unrestrained man who entices people at any time.