In the early hours of the morning, Feng Qingyi was awakened by rustling sounds and sat up groggily.
"Sorry I woke you. It's still early, go back to sleep," Qin Yuchuan said softly.
Still not fully awake, Feng Qingyi's voice was a bit hoarse. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
Feng Qingyi reached out and grabbed Qin Yuchuan's arm. "No, I want you to stay with me."
"Be good. I'll come back to see you when I have some free time."
Seeing Feng Qingyi clutching his arm and staring at him unblinkingly with her big eyes, Qin Yuchuan felt a wave of tenderness wash over him.
He gently placed a kiss on her brow.
"Qingyi, I want to stay with you too, but it's time for me to go."
Feng Qingyi slowly released her grip on his hand, saying with a hint of disappointment, "Oh, I understand. You can go then."
Qin Yuchuan tucked her hand back under the covers. "Don't catch a chill. Go back to sleep!"
"Mm, goodbye!"
As his presence faded away completely, Feng Qingyi became more alert. This way of being with him was somewhat uncomfortable, as every moment together felt like a countdown.
She wondered when his time-space transfer array would be upgraded, and what new functions it might have after the upgrade.
Back in his tent, Qin Yuchuan had no intention of going back to sleep. He lit the candles in the tent and began studying the sand table, considering the upcoming battles. Before long, daybreak arrived.
Although it was spring, the wind outside the tent was still biting cold.
Yan Chi and Yan Yang came specifically to find Qin Yuchuan.
As soon as they entered the tent, they caught a whiff of a fragrant scent.
"General, have you been burning incense in your tent?" Yan Yang asked.
Qin Yuchuan looked up. "What's the matter?"
"It's getting late, and the others are waiting for you," Yan Chi replied.
Qin Yuchuan put down his pen. "I see. You two go out first."
Yan Chi and Yan Yang retreated outside the tent, with Yan Yang still chattering away.
"I didn't see any incense burner in the tent. Where is that fragrance coming from in the General's tent?"
Yan Chi ignored him, standing coldly to one side.
Seeing his demeanor, Yan Yang figured it would be useless to ask him, as he probably didn't know either.
Inside the tent, Qin Yuchuan changed into a fresh set of clothes and tied up his hair before slowly walking out.
Yan Chi and Yan Yang followed behind him as the three made their way to the main tent, where they held their daily strategy meetings.
When Qin Yuchuan entered, everyone else had already arrived.
Although there was a ceasefire these past few days, the main military leaders in the camp still needed to gather to discuss affairs and plan their next moves.
Once the meeting started, it went on for several hours. By the time it ended, only they had not yet had breakfast, so they decided to go eat together.
Namu walked beside Qin Yuchuan. "General, are you wearing some kind of scented sachet?"
"I'm not." Why was everyone talking about fragrances today?
"That's strange. This scent is definitely coming from you, General." Those who were close to him could smell it.
Yan Yang suddenly said, "The scent seems to be coming from the General's hair. Could it be some kind of women's perfumed powder?"
"... The General would never use such things," Namu disagreed.
Yan Chi and Yan Yang exchanged a glance but said nothing more.
The General might have gone to see Miss Qingyi, which would explain it.
Qin Yuchuan sniffed his own hair and indeed detected a fragrance - her scent.
...
Spring in Shengjing was a riot of colorful blossoms and verdant willows.
On Shengling Lake, numerous young men and women were out boating.
After the Empress Dowager's funeral, everything had returned to normal. Shengjing was still the same prosperous capital, with no apparent changes on the surface.
Xuanyuan Sheng rarely left the palace, but today he was accompanied by Qi Tan and several members of the Imperial Guard for his personal protection.
On the pleasure boat, Xuanyuan Sheng drank the wine Qi Tan poured for him.
"Why has the boat stopped?" Xuanyuan Sheng asked, noticing they had come to a halt before he had finished even one jug of wine.
Qi Tan hurriedly went to check and came back to report, "Your Majesty, there's the Worthy Prince's pleasure boat ahead."
"The Worthy Prince? A blind man out boating, how interesting. We shall go take a look," Xuanyuan Sheng said.
Xuanyuan Sheng walked out of the cabin and came to the bow of the boat.
The pleasure boat opposite looked rather shabby.
It seemed his once-favored younger brother hadn't been doing well these past years.
"Stop the boat. It's been a long time since We've seen Our younger brother. Let's go catch up with him today."
Qi Tan glanced at Ming Jiu on the other boat and silently followed behind Xuanyuan Sheng.
This job was truly difficult. They never informed him of their plans, leaving him in the dark every day.
Xuanyuan Sheng boarded Xuanyuan Yan's pleasure boat. Ming Jiu perfunctorily bowed to him, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities. Is your prince inside?" Xuanyuan Sheng asked.
Ming Jiu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Yes, Your Majesty, he is."
Without another word, Xuanyuan Sheng lifted the curtain and entered.
The people around him were just as ill-mannered as he was.
Even though he had nothing left, he still put on airs of nobility.
He was quite looking forward to seeing what he looked like now.
Once upon a time, he had been the envied Third Prince, excelling in all his studies and deeply favored by their father.
He had always lived in his shadow, envying everything he possessed.
Later, that great fire changed both their lives. He successfully became the Crown Prince, while the other fell from grace.
At first, he enjoyed making him attend banquets, thinking it would be extremely entertaining to see him humiliated.
But every time, he maintained that same cool, indifferent demeanor, which greatly displeased him.
He was just a blind man now, yet still putting on airs. Who was he trying to impress with this act?
Entering the cabin, Xuanyuan Sheng saw Xuanyuan Yan seated on a stool. The table held some simple pastries that didn't look very appetizing.
"Third Brother, it's been a long time. What made you decide to go boating today?"
As far as he knew, this prince rarely left his residence, seldom going out. This boat trip must have some ulterior motive.
Xuanyuan Yan stood up. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"No need for such formalities, Third Brother. Your eyes are not yet healed, so there's no need to stand on ceremony."
Xuanyuan Sheng made a show of helping Xuanyuan Yan back to his seat.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing his demeanor, Xuanyuan Sheng said, "Third Brother, you're not getting any younger. Do you have someone you fancy? If so, We could arrange a marriage for you."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. But in my current condition, how could I burden some family's daughter?" Xuanyuan Yan replied coolly.
Xuanyuan Sheng suddenly remembered that woman in the palace. "Could it be that Third Imperial Brother still can't forget about Moon Consort? If you have feelings for her, brother, I can bestow her upon you. What do you say?"
"My relationship with her ended seven years ago. Your Majesty is overthinking this."
Xuanyuan Yan showed no reaction to Xuanyuan Sheng's insult, maintaining a calm expression with no visible change in emotion.
What Xuanyuan Sheng hated most was this lukewarm demeanor of his, as if nothing could truly capture his interest.
