Sincerity
The minor disturbance in the corner did not affect the lively crowd in the distance.
“I always thought the Second Young Master of the Yan family had no knowledge of martial arts.” Huangfu Yuchen did not look at Yan Ge, but strolled towards the stone table.
‘Here it comes.’ Yan Ge sat down next to him, holding his hand without hesitation and looking directly into his eyes. “I never intended to hide it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken action today. It’s just that I couldn’t find the right opportunity to confess to you. In fact, I accidentally discovered my martial arts ability only a few days ago.”
Huangfu Yuchen asked, “What do you mean?”
Yan Ge cleared his throat in embarrassment. “Before entering the palace, I once jumped into the lake and lost my memory. As for the reason behind the jump, I’m not sure.”
“Jumped into the lake?” Huangfu Yuchen looked at him with a peculiar expression. “You didn’t want to enter the palace?”
“It’s not like that!” Yan Ge denied without hesitation. He was now focused on climbing ranks and had long ceased to reject life in the palace. This answer was not a lie.
Huangfu Yuchen did not doubt him because Yan Ge’s desire for promotion proved it. He also didn’t suspect that Yan Ge was lying about his memory loss; he could easily verify these matters. Learning about Yan Ge’s martial arts ability, however, made him feel deceived. A deep sense of disappointment lingered in his chest, piercing his heart. But now that Yan Ge had confessed, his emotions were overwhelmed with joy, and he felt closer to fully understanding Yan Ge. No one had ever been able to affect his mood like Yan Ge did.
Sensing his change in mood, Yan Ge smiled and let go of his worries. “Since we’re here, shall we admire the flowers?” He admired Huangfu Yuchen’s courage and open-mindedness. He dared to keep him, a ticking time bomb, by his side. Could this be what they called “using someone without doubting and doubting someone without using” in the art of imperial politics?
Huangfu Yuchen stood up in response. “Not going to watch the competition?”
Yan Ge hinted, “No need. There are too many beauties there. What if you develop feelings for someone?”
Huangfu Yuchen approached him, looking down at him with a somewhat helpless expression. “Am I so lecherous in your eyes?”
“Heh, heh,” Yan Ge shook his head repeatedly. “No, no. It’s just a precaution. Dealing with those in your backyard is already giving me a headache.” He muttered the last sentence.
Huangfu Yuchen heard it clearly. He patted his head before stepping towards a flowerpot. So what if there were many women in the harem? No one had ever touched his heart. As for Yan Ge, perhaps he could become another brother? But just a brother? There seemed to be a voice deep within him saying that was not enough. He longed to understand Yan Ge more and wanted to be closer to him.
“It’s a pity…” No camera. Yan Ge showed great interest as he appreciated each and every flower. Some varieties were unique to this era, and he didn’t recognize them.
Huangfu Yuchen snapped back to reality. “Aren’t you worried that the person behind the assassin will still pose a threat to you?”
“I’m not worried. Don’t I have the two guards you assigned to me?” Yan Ge casually remarked. “I suspect it’s a rival in business. Besides them, I can’t think of anyone else.”
“I will arrange for someone to handle it. You focus on more important affairs,” Huangfu Yuchen said.
Yan Ge bowed. “Thank you, brother.”
As evening approached, a carriage slowly entered the palace and stopped in front of the Tenglong Palace.
“Your Majesty, I will go back to Luoxue Palace first to get the gift.”
After Yan Ge left, Huangfu Yuchen called upon a shadow guard but didn’t immediately give any orders. Instead, he stood in place, deep in thought.
The shadow guard stood silently, as if immobilized, awaiting orders without a sound.
Deng Mande looked at Huangfu Yuchen with confusion.
After a long pause, Huangfu Yuchen waved his sleeve, walked to the seat, and sat down. In a deep voice, he said, “Find an opportunity to explore Yan Changzai’s true strength.”
The shadow guard nodded, bowed, and disappeared like a ghost.
Deng Mande’s face was filled with astonishment. “Your Majesty, Yan Changzai possesses martial arts skills?”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded.
Deng Mande hurriedly said, “This… The Yan family didn’t report this matter. Your Majesty, this is a grave offense of deceiving the emperor!” He hoped that Yan Changzai’s presence by the emperor’s side would bring him happiness and posed no threat. However, if Yan Changzai possessed martial arts skills, it would be a different story. The consequences would be unimaginable if he harbored ill intentions towards the emperor. In the depths of the palace, anything was possible.
Huangfu Yuchen let out a sigh, his gaze turning cold. If it were any other consort, he would immediately arrange for surveillance of their every move, and perhaps even abolish their martial arts skills to eliminate any potential threats. After all, a consort did not require such exceptional combat abilities. But with Yan Changzai, he couldn’t bring himself to act in such a manner. If he did, Yan Changzai would never smile at him in the same way again. Erasing someone’s martial arts skills was easy, but erasing their resentment was much more difficult.
“Your Majesty, we must be cautious of Yan Changzai…” Deng Mande anxiously advised Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen gestured for him to stop speaking.
After a while, Yan Ge’s voice came from outside the hall, “Your Majesty, Yan Changzai requests an audience.” His voice, like his smiling face, brought about a spontaneous uplift in one’s mood.
Deng Mande saw Huangfu Yuchen nod and said, “Let Yan Changzai come in.”
Yan Changzai strode in and handed the wrapped brocade package to Deng Mande. He said to Huangfu Yuchen, “This is the new attire I designed for Your Majesty. It has a unique style that perfectly matches Your Majesty’s unparalleled status. I’m not sure if Your Majesty will like it.”
Deng Mande opened the package and carefully inspected the clothes inside and out.
The neatly folded new clothes were tossed around in his hands, causing Huangfu Yuchen to feel displeased. He raised his hand to stop Deng Mande and personally took the clothes, “Let me have a look.”
Deng Mande wore a disapproving expression but refrained from speaking much due to Huangfu Yuchen’s resolute attitude. His gaze became complicated as he looked at Yan Changzai.
Yan Changzai didn’t pay attention to this. Delighted by Huangfu Yuchen’s actions, he walked over briskly and said, “The fabric of this outfit is highly breathable. Although the design of the false lapel makes it appear as if it’s two separate garments, it’s actually just one, which is perfect for wearing now as it’s very cool. The cuffs and legs are designed to be loose, so it will be comfortable to wear. However, in order to surprise Your Majesty, I didn’t inquire about Your Majesty’s measurements beforehand, so I’m unsure if it will fit.”
Huangfu Yuchen smiled s slightly and said, “I really like this style. I will try it on, and if it doesn’t fit, I’ll have someone make adjustments.”
“Alright.”
Yan Changzai said. “By the way, Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.”
Deng Mande opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Huangfu Yuchen’s cold gaze.
“Speak.”
Yan Changzai smiled and said, “Your Majesty is aware that I only recently remembered my martial arts skills. I would like to borrow some of Your Majesty’s skilled subordinates to have a friendly match and see how my skills measure up. If Your Majesty is interested, you could observe from the side.” Emperors were always suspicious. If he were in Huangfu Yuchen’s position, he wouldn’t dare to leave a powerful threat by his side. After careful consideration on the way back to Luoxue, he decided to reveal a portion of his hidden cards once again.
Deng Mande was startled.
Huangfu Yuchen gazed deeply at Yan Changzai. Suddenly, he stood up, and walked up to him, embracing him tightly with one arm while gently stroking his hair. He whispered in his ear, “Treat me with sincerity, and I will treat you the same.”
Yan Ge, do not disappoint me.
Yan Ge’s heartbeat skipped a beat. Those words sounded too much like a confession. Immediately, he felt that he must have been overthinking it. After all, Huangfu Yuchen didn’t like men. What he said should be that kind of “sincerity” between brothers.
“Your Majesty, let’s have a match now.”
Huangfu Yuchen released him, and it was evident that he was genuinely curious about Yan Ge’s skills. He nodded with a hint of amusement.
Yan Ge asked, “Shall we compete here or go to the training ground? Would the guards be considerate of my identity and hold back? Or should I pretend to be an assassin?”
Huangfu Yuchen’s face turned cold, and he sternly scolded, “Nonsense! Can assassins be casually impersonated? If you pretend to be an assassin, they will fight you to the death!”
Yan Ge realized that he had indeed oversimplified the matter and quickly said, “I didn’t consider it thoroughly. Your Majesty, please calm down.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s anger hadn’t subsided. “There is always someone better, and there are always heavens beyond heavens. Are you so confident in your skills?”
Yan Changzai looked at him in astonishment. If he understood correctly, Huangfu Yuchen was expressing concern for him, not about being an assassin or not. His lips instantly curved into a smile. “I was mistaken. I will be humble from now on and guard against arrogance and impatience. Your Majesty, please find someone.”
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him expressionlessly and then signaled to Deng Mande. He called over one of the shadow guards and instructed Yan Ge to change into the guard’s attire.
“Let’s keep the matter that you know martial arts a secret.”
Yan Ge complied, changing into the guard’s clothing. The guard was tall and robust, and the clothes hung loosely on Yan Ge’s body. Huangfu Yuchen couldn’t help but laugh.
Yan Ge emphasized, “Your Majesty, I am still growing!”
“Yes, yes,” Huangfu Yuchen chuckled endlessly.
“Your Majesty,” Deng Mande entered with someone, stealing a glance at Huangfu Yuchen, “I have found the top expert from the Imperial Guards and the top expert from the Shadow Guards…”
Deng Mande was considering his safety, and Huangfu Yuchen did not blame him.
The top expert of the Imperial Guards, General Yang Zhuo, was in his thirties, had a robust figure and was dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guards. The top expert of the Shadow Guards, Cheng Jingfeng, wore an identical attire, with a mask covering his face from below his eyes to his mouth.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Rise,” Huangfu Yuchen gestured towards Cheng Jingfeng, “This is the newly arrived member of the Shadow Guards. You two should test his skills.”
“Yes!”
–“Ding. Side mission—defeat the two top experts. If the mission is successful, you will be rewarded with 200 taels of silver and one silver chest. Failure deducts 200 taels of silver. Accept the mission by selecting ‘yes’ and reject the mission by selecting ‘no’.”
Yan Ge chose “yes,” his fighting spirit heightened by the mission the system issued.
Sincerity
The minor disturbance in the corner did not affect the lively crowd in the distance.
“I always thought the Second Young Master of the Yan family had no knowledge of martial arts.” Huangfu Yuchen did not look at Yan Ge, but strolled towards the stone table.
‘Here it comes.’ Yan Ge sat down next to him, holding his hand without hesitation and looking directly into his eyes. “I never intended to hide it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken action today. It’s just that I couldn’t find the right opportunity to confess to you. In fact, I accidentally discovered my martial arts ability only a few days ago.”
Huangfu Yuchen asked, “What do you mean?”
Yan Ge cleared his throat in embarrassment. “Before entering the palace, I once jumped into the lake and lost my memory. As for the reason behind the jump, I’m not sure.”
“Jumped into the lake?” Huangfu Yuchen looked at him with a peculiar expression. “You didn’t want to enter the palace?”
“It’s not like that!” Yan Ge denied without hesitation. He was now focused on climbing ranks and had long ceased to reject life in the palace. This answer was not a lie.
Huangfu Yuchen did not doubt him because Yan Ge’s desire for promotion proved it. He also didn’t suspect that Yan Ge was lying about his memory loss; he could easily verify these matters. Learning about Yan Ge’s martial arts ability, however, made him feel deceived. A deep sense of disappointment lingered in his chest, piercing his heart. But now that Yan Ge had confessed, his emotions were overwhelmed with joy, and he felt closer to fully understanding Yan Ge. No one had ever been able to affect his mood like Yan Ge did.
Sensing his change in mood, Yan Ge smiled and let go of his worries. “Since we’re here, shall we admire the flowers?” He admired Huangfu Yuchen’s courage and open-mindedness. He dared to keep him, a ticking time bomb, by his side. Could this be what they called “using someone without doubting and doubting someone without using” in the art of imperial politics?
Huangfu Yuchen stood up in response. “Not going to watch the competition?”
Yan Ge hinted, “No need. There are too many beauties there. What if you develop feelings for someone?”
Huangfu Yuchen approached him, looking down at him with a somewhat helpless expression. “Am I so lecherous in your eyes?”
“Heh, heh,” Yan Ge shook his head repeatedly. “No, no. It’s just a precaution. Dealing with those in your backyard is already giving me a headache.” He muttered the last sentence.
Huangfu Yuchen heard it clearly. He patted his head before stepping towards a flowerpot. So what if there were many women in the harem? No one had ever touched his heart. As for Yan Ge, perhaps he could become another brother? But just a brother? There seemed to be a voice deep within him saying that was not enough. He longed to understand Yan Ge more and wanted to be closer to him.
“It’s a pity…” No camera. Yan Ge showed great interest as he appreciated each and every flower. Some varieties were unique to this era, and he didn’t recognize them.
Huangfu Yuchen snapped back to reality. “Aren’t you worried that the person behind the assassin will still pose a threat to you?”
“I’m not worried. Don’t I have the two guards you assigned to me?” Yan Ge casually remarked. “I suspect it’s a rival in business. Besides them, I can’t think of anyone else.”
“I will arrange for someone to handle it. You focus on more important affairs,” Huangfu Yuchen said.
Yan Ge bowed. “Thank you, brother.”
As evening approached, a carriage slowly entered the palace and stopped in front of the Tenglong Palace.
“Your Majesty, I will go back to Luoxue Palace first to get the gift.”
After Yan Ge left, Huangfu Yuchen called upon a shadow guard but didn’t immediately give any orders. Instead, he stood in place, deep in thought.
The shadow guard stood silently, as if immobilized, awaiting orders without a sound.
Deng Mande looked at Huangfu Yuchen with confusion.
After a long pause, Huangfu Yuchen waved his sleeve, walked to the seat, and sat down. In a deep voice, he said, “Find an opportunity to explore Yan Changzai’s true strength.”
The shadow guard nodded, bowed, and disappeared like a ghost.
Deng Mande’s face was filled with astonishment. “Your Majesty, Yan Changzai possesses martial arts skills?”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded.
Deng Mande hurriedly said, “This… The Yan family didn’t report this matter. Your Majesty, this is a grave offense of deceiving the emperor!” He hoped that Yan Changzai’s presence by the emperor’s side would bring him happiness and posed no threat. However, if Yan Changzai possessed martial arts skills, it would be a different story. The consequences would be unimaginable if he harbored ill intentions towards the emperor. In the depths of the palace, anything was possible.
Huangfu Yuchen let out a sigh, his gaze turning cold. If it were any other consort, he would immediately arrange for surveillance of their every move, and perhaps even abolish their martial arts skills to eliminate any potential threats. After all, a consort did not require such exceptional combat abilities. But with Yan Changzai, he couldn’t bring himself to act in such a manner. If he did, Yan Changzai would never smile at him in the same way again. Erasing someone’s martial arts skills was easy, but erasing their resentment was much more difficult.
“Your Majesty, we must be cautious of Yan Changzai…” Deng Mande anxiously advised Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen gestured for him to stop speaking.
After a while, Yan Ge’s voice came from outside the hall, “Your Majesty, Yan Changzai requests an audience.” His voice, like his smiling face, brought about a spontaneous uplift in one’s mood.
Deng Mande saw Huangfu Yuchen nod and said, “Let Yan Changzai come in.”
Yan Changzai strode in and handed the wrapped brocade package to Deng Mande. He said to Huangfu Yuchen, “This is the new attire I designed for Your Majesty. It has a unique style that perfectly matches Your Majesty’s unparalleled status. I’m not sure if Your Majesty will like it.”
Deng Mande opened the package and carefully inspected the clothes inside and out.
The neatly folded new clothes were tossed around in his hands, causing Huangfu Yuchen to feel displeased. He raised his hand to stop Deng Mande and personally took the clothes, “Let me have a look.”
Deng Mande wore a disapproving expression but refrained from speaking much due to Huangfu Yuchen’s resolute attitude. His gaze became complicated as he looked at Yan Changzai.
Yan Changzai didn’t pay attention to this. Delighted by Huangfu Yuchen’s actions, he walked over briskly and said, “The fabric of this outfit is highly breathable. Although the design of the false lapel makes it appear as if it’s two separate garments, it’s actually just one, which is perfect for wearing now as it’s very cool. The cuffs and legs are designed to be loose, so it will be comfortable to wear. However, in order to surprise Your Majesty, I didn’t inquire about Your Majesty’s measurements beforehand, so I’m unsure if it will fit.”
Huangfu Yuchen smiled s slightly and said, “I really like this style. I will try it on, and if it doesn’t fit, I’ll have someone make adjustments.”
“Alright.”
Yan Changzai said. “By the way, Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.”
Deng Mande opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Huangfu Yuchen’s cold gaze.
“Speak.”
Yan Changzai smiled and said, “Your Majesty is aware that I only recently remembered my martial arts skills. I would like to borrow some of Your Majesty’s skilled subordinates to have a friendly match and see how my skills measure up. If Your Majesty is interested, you could observe from the side.” Emperors were always suspicious. If he were in Huangfu Yuchen’s position, he wouldn’t dare to leave a powerful threat by his side. After careful consideration on the way back to Luoxue, he decided to reveal a portion of his hidden cards once again.
Deng Mande was startled.
Huangfu Yuchen gazed deeply at Yan Changzai. Suddenly, he stood up, and walked up to him, embracing him tightly with one arm while gently stroking his hair. He whispered in his ear, “Treat me with sincerity, and I will treat you the same.”
Yan Ge, do not disappoint me.
Yan Ge’s heartbeat skipped a beat. Those words sounded too much like a confession. Immediately, he felt that he must have been overthinking it. After all, Huangfu Yuchen didn’t like men. What he said should be that kind of “sincerity” between brothers.
“Your Majesty, let’s have a match now.”
Huangfu Yuchen released him, and it was evident that he was genuinely curious about Yan Ge’s skills. He nodded with a hint of amusement.
Yan Ge asked, “Shall we compete here or go to the training ground? Would the guards be considerate of my identity and hold back? Or should I pretend to be an assassin?”
Huangfu Yuchen’s face turned cold, and he sternly scolded, “Nonsense! Can assassins be casually impersonated? If you pretend to be an assassin, they will fight you to the death!”
Yan Ge realized that he had indeed oversimplified the matter and quickly said, “I didn’t consider it thoroughly. Your Majesty, please calm down.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s anger hadn’t subsided. “There is always someone better, and there are always heavens beyond heavens. Are you so confident in your skills?”
Yan Changzai looked at him in astonishment. If he understood correctly, Huangfu Yuchen was expressing concern for him, not about being an assassin or not. His lips instantly curved into a smile. “I was mistaken. I will be humble from now on and guard against arrogance and impatience. Your Majesty, please find someone.”
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him expressionlessly and then signaled to Deng Mande. He called over one of the shadow guards and instructed Yan Ge to change into the guard’s attire.
“Let’s keep the matter that you know martial arts a secret.”
Yan Ge complied, changing into the guard’s clothing. The guard was tall and robust, and the clothes hung loosely on Yan Ge’s body. Huangfu Yuchen couldn’t help but laugh.
Yan Ge emphasized, “Your Majesty, I am still growing!”
“Yes, yes,” Huangfu Yuchen chuckled endlessly.
“Your Majesty,” Deng Mande entered with someone, stealing a glance at Huangfu Yuchen, “I have found the top expert from the Imperial Guards and the top expert from the Shadow Guards…”
Deng Mande was considering his safety, and Huangfu Yuchen did not blame him.
The top expert of the Imperial Guards, General Yang Zhuo, was in his thirties, had a robust figure and was dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guards. The top expert of the Shadow Guards, Cheng Jingfeng, wore an identical attire, with a mask covering his face from below his eyes to his mouth.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Rise,” Huangfu Yuchen gestured towards Cheng Jingfeng, “This is the newly arrived member of the Shadow Guards. You two should test his skills.”
“Yes!”
–“Ding. Side mission—defeat the two top experts. If the mission is successful, you will be rewarded with 200 taels of silver and one silver chest. Failure deducts 200 taels of silver. Accept the mission by selecting ‘yes’ and reject the mission by selecting ‘no’.”
Yan Ge chose “yes,” his fighting spirit heightened by the mission the system issued.
