Prince of Yan

When Xin Yi's troops from Lijin and Xiajin began to mobilize and gather, the conferment from the capital arrived swiftly and fiercely. Xin Yi received the sealed order in front of the Prince of Yan's Manor in Lijin, and the Beiyang Army finally emerged from under the thick ice, showing a glimpse of its former glory.

Originally, Dezhou was small and sparsely populated, and Beiyang was a tiger that had been painstakingly separated. Even if there was another rebellion, it shouldn't have been Beiyang's turn to re-gather this tiger. Yet, somehow, this time Dezhou not only had elite troops, but also managed to muster a full fifty thousand men, capturing all the household troops of the neighboring Yuanji prefecture overnight. This panicked the people in the capital. Not to mention that anyone remotely connected to Sun Baiping felt insecure; past Yuanji, then Qingping and Yangshuo, and then it is the capital. Xin Yi, currently in Beiyang, was the Prince of Yan's heir, so it was crucial to strike while the iron was hot and quickly push him forward, to block the advance if possible.

Can't block them? If they can't be blocked, there's still the Prince of Pingding! Wasn't this two-character Prince title earned precisely by 'pingding' (pacifying/subduing)?

Xin Yi accepted the conferment, becoming a proper Great Lan first-rank prince. Under his command, although not reaching three hundred thousand, he had gathered one hundred thirty thousand Beiyang Army soldiers. His re-entry into the capital would be different from before. Moreover, if he quelled this Dezhou rebellion, the Emperor would have to give him credit, and any past resentful thoughts towards the old Prince of Yan would have to be feigned as non-existent.

But Xin Yi wasn't thinking that far ahead. He was currently focused on Dezhou and Jiangtang. Sun Baiping's rebellion was organized; it was impossible that there was no one supporting his military provisions. But who was supporting him, the Prince of Tang, or Yan Jueshu?

"Your Highness, wait!" Ji Baiyue came galloping after him from behind. Xin Yi was momentarily stunned before realizing he was being called. He reined in his horse to a halt. Ji Baiyue rode up to his side and presented the brought item with both hands, saying, "Previously, when I heard the Prince's heir didn't have a handy weapon, I didn't pay it much mind. But now it's different. Now Your Highness is going to battle; a sharp weapon is essential."

Xin Yi saw the saber and knew whose it was without needing to draw it. He hesitated for a moment but still took it, asking, "Did Eldest Brother give it to me?"

It was Xin Jing's "Heavenly Dao."

"First Young Master always intended for it to be for Your Highness." Ji Baiyue's eyes lingered on the saber for a moment before he whispered, "After First Young Master, only Your Highness is worthy of it."

"Its reputation is already enough." Xin Yi gripped the saber and saw the powerful bow tightly secured behind Ji Baiyue.

Ji Baiyue said, "Everyone talks about the Wind-Breaking Arrow, but few realize the contribution of this Moon-Climbing Bow." The scar on his brow bone was old, and he pursed his lips tightly, looking somewhat weather-beaten. "Both names were bestowed by First Young Master."

Moon-Climbing, Moon-Climbing, though one cannot reach the bright moon, this bow still has strength to break the wind. Moon-Climbing, Wind-Breaking. Rather than saying Eldest Brother placed high hopes on this bow and arrow, it was more accurate to say he placed high hopes on Ji Baiyue.

Xin Yi said, "General, you live up to this name."

Ji Baiyue didn't smile, only skipped the topic and said, "Sun Baiping's household troops are attacking south, first capturing Yuanji and then pressuring Xianglan. This is probably to avoid Beiyang."

"Can he avoid us?" Xin Yi rubbed the hilt of the saber and shook his head, "He's not trying to avoid Beiyang; he's drawing Beiyang south."

Ji Baiyue's eyes darkened, "The Beiyang Army has been stationed in the north for years, fighting Great Yuan. The southern regions, once we enter Qingping, are areas with many waterways. If we fight on boats, we probably won't have an advantage."

"So we can only drive him north before he attacks Qingping." Xin Yi's dimples showed slightly, yet without much humor. He said, "We also need to cut off his path to the south."

Without massive financial support from behind, Dezhou alone would never be able to maintain this army of fifty thousand, let alone contend with the deeply rooted Beiyang Army. Once his path to the south is cut off, it would be like a fish out of water, unable to last long.

Sun Baiping's men attacked south, and Wu Yu was initially chasing them like a rabbit, fearing they wouldn't run fast enough. After Xin Yi arrived, Xiajin immediately left thirty thousand men to garrison, and Lijin also left thirty thousand. He headed south, with a total of seventy thousand men remaining under his command, flanked by Wu Yu and Meng Chen, while Ji Baiyue stayed to guard the rear.

Meng Chen led his troops, chasing and fighting Sun Baiping, while Xin Yi and Wu Yu took a detour, passing through Qingping directly into the rear of Xianglan, encircling the Dezhou soldiers in the Yuanji and Xianglan area.

Everyone thought this battle would be quick, but unexpectedly, it dragged on until early winter.

First, Sun Baiping's Dezhou granary in the rear was captured, and his vanguard was directly demoralized by Xin Yi. Unable to advance or retreat, he simply hunkered down in the Xianglan area, holding out to the death. However, even though Xin Yi had cut off his path to the south, he still had no worries about food and drink in Xianglan; he even heightened the city walls and placed crossbows.

Where these supplies were flowing in from, the Beiyang Army couldn't find a breakthrough even after searching every inch of the besieged area.

When the snow fell, Xin Yi was still on the watchtower.

Wu Yu was carrying a small hand warmer and provocatively wearing only a thin shirt; his nose was now running uncontrollably from the cold. He stomped his feet, pacing back and forth, and seeing Xin Yi gazing at Xianglan City in the wind and snow, he couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, just staring at it won't make it open."

After autumn, Xin Yi stopped the fierce offensive. Until the snow fell, the Beiyang Army only made a few minor harassing attacks, as if testing something. Xianglan was high in elevation, backed by Wuhan Mountain, and not bordered by the Qingping Chang River on all sides. It couldn't be flooded, nor could it be severely damaged by attacks.

Xin Yi exhaled a breath, a misty white cloud obscuring his vision. Although his food and drink had been rough these past six months, his physical exertion consumed more than when he was in the capital, so his appetite had grown even larger. He had also shot up in height and his build had become much sturdier. But a sudden glance revealed that the innocent and pure look in his eyes had faded considerably, replaced by a fifty percent increase in gentle refinement, and when he wasn't speaking, a hint of sharpness. His appearance and demeanor were utterly different from when he was in the capital.

"You're right," Xin Yi said, turning to go down and calling to Wu Yu, "There's soup today, let's go."

"Tell Old Brother Meng to add more vinegar!" Wu Yu followed behind, shivering. "I really like sour food."

Xin Yi glanced back at him and said slowly, "It's been months, and you're still running around outside."

Wu Yu tucked the hand warmer into his embrace, walked a few steps with a hand on his waist, and said delicately, "Seven or eight months, my lord, quickly come and support your concubine. This snowy ground is slippery; what if I fall?"

Xin Yi stopped and turned sideways, watching his antics with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Wu Yu stumbled a few steps. Perhaps because he had a jinxing mouth, he really did slip and fall forward. Xin Yi, quick-eyed and quick-handed, grabbed his arm and pulled him up. Wu Yu leaned against his shoulder, "Oh no, this baby is going to slip out!" After saying that, his expression changed, and he cried out in pain, "Hey, hey, hey, don't let go, Your Highness! My foot, my foot is really twisted!"

Xin Yi looked and saw his hand warmer had also rolled into the snow, so it seemed to be true. He bent down to pick up the hand warmer, chastising him, "Such a loose tongue, walk properly..."

Someone got to it before him and picked up the hand warmer.

Xin Yi froze, his gaze following the fair, beautiful hand upwards, past the dark blue cuff, straight to the person's tightly fastened collar and snow-white chin.

His heart began to pound rapidly; his mouth felt dry, and he even forgot to straighten his back. He just looked up like that, meeting a pair of deep, narrow eyes.

Bai Jiu's gaze shifted to Xin Yi's hand supporting Wu Yu. Xin Yi immediately let go as if he had been scalded. Wu Yu's "eh" hadn't even fully left his mouth before he plopped down into the snow.

"Y-Y-" Xin Yi's tongue stumbled.

Bai Jiu gently tossed the hand warmer into Wu Yu's arms and asked, "Where's the 'romance' now?"

Xin Yi's face flushed, and he stammered, "No, not that, I was just... just messing with the fool."

Fool Yu sat in the snow, not daring to utter a sound, only wishing to bite the hand that had just been playing tricks and burrow into the snow, hoping this King of Hell wouldn't remember a single thing!

Bai Jiu chuckled softly, his intense beauty, even through the snow, made Xin Yi's blood boil, his mouth dry, and his limbs weak. He stared blankly at the person, but Bai Jiu turned and headed towards the tent. Xin Yi hurriedly followed. All the way, Bai Jiu didn't speak to him, nor did he even turn his head once.

Xin Yi's heart was in turmoil. On one hand, he wished he could pounce on the man and fawn over him; on the other, he was anxious that his earlier antics might have made the man uncomfortable. In the end, he simply followed obediently, not daring to utter a single word, all his words stuck in his throat.

Inside the tent, Meng Chen just lifted the curtain, holding a pot. "Today's soup is specially—" Suddenly seeing the dark blue figure, he actually took a step back, holding the pot and shivering, "P-Prince of Pingding!"

Bai Jiu glanced into the pot and said indifferently, "Good cooking."

Meng Chen thought to himself, 'I only know how to make this one dish, how could it not be good!' But he didn't dare to boast in front of Bai Jiu, only nodding vigorously.

"You've certainly made your Prince quite 'familiar'."

Familiar?

Meng Chen, horrified, scrutinized Xin Yi, wondering where he had made the Prince 'familiar'. Bai Jiu had already lifted the curtain and gone inside. Xin Yi gave Meng Chen a meaningful look, and Meng Chen quickly retreated with the pot.

It grew even hotter inside the tent, so hot that sweat beaded at Xin Yi's temples. The person pressed against his back slid a hand to his jaw, lifted his head, and kissed him again. This time it was gentle and calm, soothing the intense heat of before. His shoulders, exposed from the leather hide, were dotted with marks, and the redness at the corner of Xin Yi's eyes hadn't had time to fade.

"How did you get here?" Xin Yi, who had finally recovered, lay on the bed, too lazy to move.

"To catch someone." Bai Jiu smoothed his damp hair and bit his back shoulder again, "Caught you red-handed."

"I'm used to running around with them." Xin Yi tilted his head and smiled at him, "No sense of propriety."

"Seven or eight months, was it?" Bai Jiu lay languidly over him, saying into his ear, "Quite vigorous."

Xin Yi's ear tips flushed red. "Ziyin has never been serious."

Bai Jiu chuckled without responding. Xin Yi didn't wait for a reply; before he could look at him, he was flipped over, now facing Bai Jiu's slightly raised brow, and was kissed until he was dizzy. That hand lingered at his lower back, giving him no chance to make a sound, letting the bed boards suffer another round of 'sin'.

A sin more torrential than before.

Bai Jiu came here by order to supervise the army. This matter usually would have been handled by He Anchang, but he had been resting at home for over half a year. Zhang Taiyan was too old and frail to come, and Hou Ke, a new noble, was unsuitable. The Crown Prince hadn't been back in the capital as long as he had been in Wuhan, so he naturally shouldn't come out either. The Prince of Qin was also gone, leaving only Bai Jiu as the most suitable candidate.

The next day, when Wu Yu saw Bai Jiu, he felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles. Although this lord didn't speak much, just leaned back, warmed tea, and read books, whenever he stood near the Prince, a chilling wind would rush up from his calves, making him shiver.

Wu Yu had unspoken grievances, unaware that today's Prince was also thoroughly covered up, even skipping his usual morning sparring with Meng Chen.

"This morning, Xianglan used fire oil again." Meng Chen worried, "How on earth did this stuff get in? Could it have been sent by ghosts?"

"Sun Baiping is treating Xianglan City as a city to save his life; how could he not add everything he has to it?" Xin Yi gestured on the map, "Aside from Wuhan Mountain, all paths to the south have been cut off by us. His supplies can only be delivered through Wuhan Mountain."

"Did it grow wings?" Meng Chen asked. "Wuhan Mountain is high and treacherous; how did they get it in?"

Everyone fell silent.

Bai Jiu poured some tea in the back and said, "If they can't go over, then they'll go under."

"Underneath?" Xin Yi froze.

Bai Jiu set down his tea, smiled, and called out, "Ziyin."

Wu Yu shivered, feeling for the first time that his courtesy name sounded deadly when called like that.