Father Cheated Again
Huangfu Yuchen said, “I just reviewed the soldiers’ register. Many of them have been stationed at the border for over three years without returning home, including General Cao. General Cao has worked hard.”
“Serving Great Han is this servant’s honor and glory!” Cao Zhan replied proudly.
Huangfu Yuchen nodded and turned to Yan Ge. “I was thinking, what if we rotate half of the stationed soldiers with the soldiers from the inland every two years? This way, it would bring the soldiers who have been away from their families closer to home, and the communication between them will be more convenient.”
Cao Zhan and Feng Zhun were both excited by the idea.
Yan Ge asked with confusion, “Why not replace all of them?”
Cao Zhan looked nervously at Huangfu Yuchen. If they were all replaced, the disadvantages would outweigh the benefits.
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. “The border environment is harsh. If we replace all the soldiers, the new ones would need to readjust to the new environment and establish rapport with the commanders. It would be highly unfavorable if there were any conflicts during this period. By only replacing half, half new recruits and half seasoned soldiers, they can adapt more quickly. At the same time, it also allows for the training of soldiers from the inland. Over time, all of our soldiers will experience the trials at the border. What do you think?”
Yan Ge clapped his hands in approval. “Brilliant. We can also start by mixing the accommodations of new recruits and seasoned soldiers, which will promote their faster adaptation to the new environment and foster mutual understanding and trust.”
Cao Zhan and Feng Zhun exchanged glances and simultaneously praised, “Your Majesty and Yan Guiren’s considerations are a blessing for the soldiers and the people.”
“That’s enough. No need for more words,” Huangfu Yuchen said. “General Cao is more familiar with the border situation, and he might not be able to return to the capital in the coming years. However, once I return, I will approve your parents’ visit to reunite with you for a month. It’s not possible for all the families of the stationed generals to move to the border. Considering the possibility of the border commanders defecting, it is necessary to keep some of their family members in the capital. This has been the practice throughout history.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Cao Zhan glanced at Feng Zhun.
Feng Zhun awkwardly shifted his body and gave him a disdainful look, thinking, ‘Why are you looking at me?’
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Madam has already given you guidance on the matter of Xiguan Pass. You can handle the specifics. The two of us will depart early tomorrow morning, and there’s no need for a farewell. Once there is progress, submit a report to the capital. I will respond when I return.”
“Yes.”
After Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge left, Cao Zhan stared deeply at Feng Zhun with an indiscernible delight in his eyes.
Feng Zhun felt uneasy and growled, “Why are you looking at me?”
Cao Zhan raised his eyebrows. “What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Why are you looking at me?’ Can’t I say that? Are you afraid?” Feng Zhun crossed his arms.
Cao Zhan burst into laughter. “Hahaha…”
“Something’s wrong with you,” Feng Zhun muttered disdainfully and walked away with a flick of his sleeves.
Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Ge, and Yan Jin returned to the inn, rested for a while, and began packing their belongings. This time, Yan Ge was smarter and packed their clothes separately. They also took out some important pills and food from the system backpack and divided them into three portions, placing them in their respective bags. They even spent a whole 100,000 silver taels in the system store to buy three Huiyuan Pills, just in case they encountered unexpected situations and needed a solution.
*Huiyuan pills can help one quickly recover their vitality and reduce the damage to the spirit and dantian.Suddenly, his hand caught something soft beneath a cloth in a bundle. Curious, he touched it and felt something fluffy that seemed to wriggle!
He stepped back a few steps and hid behind Huangfu Yuchen, vigorously rubbing his hands on him. “There’s a rat! I want to file a complaint! It’s so filthy! I don’t want those clothes anymore!”
Huangfu Yuchen was taken aback but couldn’t help but laugh. He embraced him and used tea water to wash his hands. “This room is fairly clean. How could there be a rat? Yan Jin, go take a look.”
“But, Father, I’m just a child,” Yan Jin said, sitting on a stool and happily eating roasted potatoes, swinging his little legs.
“Hmm?” Huangfu Yuchen turned to look at him.
Yan Jin obediently hopped off the stool and pulled open the cloth bundle. A shiny green creature caught his eye, and he grinned. “Papa, it’s not a rat, it’s a caterpillar.”
“Oh, it’s just a caterpillar,” Yan Ge felt relieved. After washing his hands and wiping them with three handkerchiefs, he finally felt clean.
“How did a caterpillar end up in the bundle? Could it have accidentally come from the trees yesterday?”
As Yan Ge took a couple of steps forward, the caterpillar suddenly wriggled and jumped onto his collar, its body extending and sprouting a few green leaves. Yan Ge found it familiar. “Zirui, come and see. Could this be the Zhantian Vine?”
“What?” Huangfu Yuchen quickly walked over and, seeing the caterpillar, reached out to crush it.
The caterpillar quickly escaped behind Yan Ge with a “whoosh”, and poked its “head” out from his shoulder. It extended two leaves and brought them together, as if making a bow, nodding towards Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. The rest of its leaves drooped, giving it a pitiful appearance.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen exchanged glances.
Yan Jin said, “It must have become more intelligent after consuming the Foundation Building Pill. Papa gave it the pill, so it must have recognized him and secretly followed him.”
Huangfu Yuchen frowned. They had harmed the Zhantian Vine before, and if they let it stay, it might become a future trouble.
Yan Jin understood his thoughts. “Let’s establish a blood contract. Anything with spiritual nature can be bound by a blood contract. Once it recognizes a master, it won’t be able to harm them.”
“Do you think it will agree?” Huangfu Yuchen doubted.
The Zhantian Vine seemed to understand their conversation. After hesitating for a while, its body slightly enlarged, and it extended its “head,” revealing the stump left by Yan Ge’s earlier cut.
“Zirui, come here. You are more likely to encounter danger than me,” Yan Ge said.
Huangfu Yuchen crossed his arms and looked at the Zhantian Vine, his expression cold. “I don’t like it.”
Yan Ge was speechless.
Yan Ge let Yan Jin prick his finger and drip a drop of blood into the stump. A flash of red light passed through the Zhantian Vine.
“It’s done,” Yan Jin said.
Yan Ge patted the Zhantian Vine, and it rubbed against his finger, climbing up to his head, forming a circle like a headband.
Huangfu Yuchen found it quite irritating, but considering it was just a plant, he spared it.
Early the next morning, after calmly having breakfast at the inn, the family of three led their horses and departed.
Not far away, Elder Yingzun was also preparing to leave with Fang Jie and Fang Ling.
Fang Jie asked, “Master, are you sure about saving them back then? They don’t even know that you saved them. They haven’t even said ‘thank you.’”
Elder Yingzun chuckled. “This old man didn’t save people for repayment.”
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen overheard their conversation and exchanged a puzzled glance.
Yan Ge quietly recalled the situation from that day and whispered, “Zirui, I remember now. When we were fighting the Zhantian Vine, it seemed like someone was planning to take advantage of the situation, but someone stopped them. I was too focused on dealing with the vine and didn’t pay attention. That person who helped must have been elder Yingzun.”
Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment, then landed in front of Elder Yingzun and handed him a delicate porcelain bottle containing the Huiyuan Pills.
“Thank you, senior, for helping our family that day. This pill is crucial and can save your life in a critical moment.”
Without waiting for Elder Yingzun to speak, he nodded at him and flew away.
“Master, what kind of medicine is this? Is it really that amazing?” Fang Ling curiously approached.
Elder Yingzun smiled faintly, “The person who helped us must be extraordinary. Let’s go.”
Yan Ge generously spent another thirty-five thousand taels of silver to buy another Huiyuan Pill for Huangfu Yuchen.
“Baby, the abandoned city is nearby. Are you interested in taking a look?” Huangfu Yuchen asked while riding swiftly.
Yan Ge asked, “Abandoned city? What’s so special about it?”
The wind blew through his hair, and the charming smile on Huangfu Yuchen’s face made Yan Ge’s heart skip a beat.
“The Abandoned City is not actually an abandoned city, but Rong County. It is located amidst the mountains, where the people are almost isolated from the world. They hardly leave the mountains throughout the year because it’s extremely difficult to do so. Consequently, the people there are very impoverished. The former emperor planned to relocate the entire county, but the residents strongly resisted, to the point of almost inciting a rebellion. The former emperor had no choice but to abandon the plan.”
Yan Ge expressed his understanding, “There’s a saying, ‘One finds it difficult to leave their homeland.’ However, with abundant resources in the mountains, even if they can’t interact with the outside world, they should be living decently. I can’t understand why they are so impoverished.”
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head, “After I ascended the throne, I immediately sent people to investigate the situation there. It’s extremely complicated.”
“Then let’s go and see.” The more challenging it is to transform a place, the more interested Yan Ge became in taking on the challenge.
They rode swiftly for more than sixty miles, gradually seeing no signs of human habitation. However, beneath the azure sky that resembled satin, the mountains along the road were adorned with lush greenery, and colorful flowers competed for attention, creating a visual feast that intoxicated the senses.
Huangfu Yuchen reined in his horse and pointed to a dirt road sandwiched between two mountains, connecting to the official road. “From here, it’s about forty-something miles to Rong County.”
“Forty miles isn’t far. Let’s hurry on.” Yan Ge expressed his disbelief. Unbeknownst to him, a mischievous smile played at the corner of Huangfu Yuchen’s lips.
After running around the mountain road for more than thirty circuits without reaching their destination, Yan Ge panted as he slumped over his horse. These were not towering mountains, but rather slender and tall ones, resembling pillars. They had been circling around the base of the mountains all along, and the road, having been left unused for years, was full of potholes. Even riding on horseback was uncomfortable due to the constant jolting.
“You… You said it’s only forty-something miles. My head is spinning…”
“Father cheated again.” Yan Jin descended leisurely from the sky.
Yan Ge: “…” ‘Cheated’ is not used in this context.
“I only said Rong County is about forty miles away. I didn’t say we were left with forty miles to reach.” Huangfu Yuchen suppressed his laughter, dismounted, and walked over to Yan Ge, patting his buttocks and giving them a rub. “We’re definitely going to spend the night in the mountains. Come down, I’ll make you something delicious.”
“You?” Yan Ge rested his chin on his hand, looking down on him disdainfully.
Huangfu Yuchen handed him the reins, and in a flash, he disappeared into the forest.
Not long after, he returned carrying three neatly processed wild chickens. The three chickens were tied together with a sturdy wild grass.
Yan Ge was still slumped over his horse, looking at him with a smile.
Huangfu Yuchen didn’t rush him either. He hung the three chickens on a tree branch and flew back into the forest, soon returning with a pile of firewood. He calmly took out a dagger from his pouch and made numerous small cuts on the chickens, then coated them with seasoning before igniting the fire to start grilling.
When the enticing aroma began to waft through the air, Yan Ge flew over with a swoosh and landed beside him, sitting close to him. “My Zirui is amazing. Can we eat now?”
“Just wait a bit longer.” Huangfu Yuchen threw a few dried red things like chili peppers that he bought from Xiguan Pass into the fire.
“What’s that for?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “To give the chicken a hint of spiciness without being too hot.”
“I didn’t expect you to be skilled in this too.” Yan Ge remarked in surprise.
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “Do you remember me mentioning that I had been on the battlefield before?”
Yan Ge looked astonished, “Was it in the Xiguan Pass?”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded, “This technique was learned from an old soldier back then.”
After the wild chickens were grilled, each of them took one and began tearing into it, their mouths smeared with grease.
“Delicious?” Huangfu Yuchen wiped away the oil stain at the corner of Yan Ge’s mouth with his thumb.
“Delicious.” Yan Ge nodded.
“After daybreak, I’ll catch a few more wild chickens.”
“Little Jin and I will help you.”
Father Cheated Again
Huangfu Yuchen said, “I just reviewed the soldiers’ register. Many of them have been stationed at the border for over three years without returning home, including General Cao. General Cao has worked hard.”
“Serving Great Han is this servant’s honor and glory!” Cao Zhan replied proudly.
Huangfu Yuchen nodded and turned to Yan Ge. “I was thinking, what if we rotate half of the stationed soldiers with the soldiers from the inland every two years? This way, it would bring the soldiers who have been away from their families closer to home, and the communication between them will be more convenient.”
Cao Zhan and Feng Zhun were both excited by the idea.
Yan Ge asked with confusion, “Why not replace all of them?”
Cao Zhan looked nervously at Huangfu Yuchen. If they were all replaced, the disadvantages would outweigh the benefits.
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. “The border environment is harsh. If we replace all the soldiers, the new ones would need to readjust to the new environment and establish rapport with the commanders. It would be highly unfavorable if there were any conflicts during this period. By only replacing half, half new recruits and half seasoned soldiers, they can adapt more quickly. At the same time, it also allows for the training of soldiers from the inland. Over time, all of our soldiers will experience the trials at the border. What do you think?”
Yan Ge clapped his hands in approval. “Brilliant. We can also start by mixing the accommodations of new recruits and seasoned soldiers, which will promote their faster adaptation to the new environment and foster mutual understanding and trust.”
Cao Zhan and Feng Zhun exchanged glances and simultaneously praised, “Your Majesty and Yan Guiren’s considerations are a blessing for the soldiers and the people.”
“That’s enough. No need for more words,” Huangfu Yuchen said. “General Cao is more familiar with the border situation, and he might not be able to return to the capital in the coming years. However, once I return, I will approve your parents’ visit to reunite with you for a month. It’s not possible for all the families of the stationed generals to move to the border. Considering the possibility of the border commanders defecting, it is necessary to keep some of their family members in the capital. This has been the practice throughout history.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Cao Zhan glanced at Feng Zhun.
Feng Zhun awkwardly shifted his body and gave him a disdainful look, thinking, ‘Why are you looking at me?’
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Madam has already given you guidance on the matter of Xiguan Pass. You can handle the specifics. The two of us will depart early tomorrow morning, and there’s no need for a farewell. Once there is progress, submit a report to the capital. I will respond when I return.”
“Yes.”
After Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge left, Cao Zhan stared deeply at Feng Zhun with an indiscernible delight in his eyes.
Feng Zhun felt uneasy and growled, “Why are you looking at me?”
Cao Zhan raised his eyebrows. “What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Why are you looking at me?’ Can’t I say that? Are you afraid?” Feng Zhun crossed his arms.
Cao Zhan burst into laughter. “Hahaha…”
“Something’s wrong with you,” Feng Zhun muttered disdainfully and walked away with a flick of his sleeves.
Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Ge, and Yan Jin returned to the inn, rested for a while, and began packing their belongings. This time, Yan Ge was smarter and packed their clothes separately. They also took out some important pills and food from the system backpack and divided them into three portions, placing them in their respective bags. They even spent a whole 100,000 silver taels in the system store to buy three Huiyuan Pills, just in case they encountered unexpected situations and needed a solution.
*Huiyuan pills can help one quickly recover their vitality and reduce the damage to the spirit and dantian.Suddenly, his hand caught something soft beneath a cloth in a bundle. Curious, he touched it and felt something fluffy that seemed to wriggle!
He stepped back a few steps and hid behind Huangfu Yuchen, vigorously rubbing his hands on him. “There’s a rat! I want to file a complaint! It’s so filthy! I don’t want those clothes anymore!”
Huangfu Yuchen was taken aback but couldn’t help but laugh. He embraced him and used tea water to wash his hands. “This room is fairly clean. How could there be a rat? Yan Jin, go take a look.”
“But, Father, I’m just a child,” Yan Jin said, sitting on a stool and happily eating roasted potatoes, swinging his little legs.
“Hmm?” Huangfu Yuchen turned to look at him.
Yan Jin obediently hopped off the stool and pulled open the cloth bundle. A shiny green creature caught his eye, and he grinned. “Papa, it’s not a rat, it’s a caterpillar.”
“Oh, it’s just a caterpillar,” Yan Ge felt relieved. After washing his hands and wiping them with three handkerchiefs, he finally felt clean.
“How did a caterpillar end up in the bundle? Could it have accidentally come from the trees yesterday?”
As Yan Ge took a couple of steps forward, the caterpillar suddenly wriggled and jumped onto his collar, its body extending and sprouting a few green leaves. Yan Ge found it familiar. “Zirui, come and see. Could this be the Zhantian Vine?”
“What?” Huangfu Yuchen quickly walked over and, seeing the caterpillar, reached out to crush it.
The caterpillar quickly escaped behind Yan Ge with a “whoosh”, and poked its “head” out from his shoulder. It extended two leaves and brought them together, as if making a bow, nodding towards Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. The rest of its leaves drooped, giving it a pitiful appearance.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen exchanged glances.
Yan Jin said, “It must have become more intelligent after consuming the Foundation Building Pill. Papa gave it the pill, so it must have recognized him and secretly followed him.”
Huangfu Yuchen frowned. They had harmed the Zhantian Vine before, and if they let it stay, it might become a future trouble.
Yan Jin understood his thoughts. “Let’s establish a blood contract. Anything with spiritual nature can be bound by a blood contract. Once it recognizes a master, it won’t be able to harm them.”
“Do you think it will agree?” Huangfu Yuchen doubted.
The Zhantian Vine seemed to understand their conversation. After hesitating for a while, its body slightly enlarged, and it extended its “head,” revealing the stump left by Yan Ge’s earlier cut.
“Zirui, come here. You are more likely to encounter danger than me,” Yan Ge said.
Huangfu Yuchen crossed his arms and looked at the Zhantian Vine, his expression cold. “I don’t like it.”
Yan Ge was speechless.
Yan Ge let Yan Jin prick his finger and drip a drop of blood into the stump. A flash of red light passed through the Zhantian Vine.
“It’s done,” Yan Jin said.
Yan Ge patted the Zhantian Vine, and it rubbed against his finger, climbing up to his head, forming a circle like a headband.
Huangfu Yuchen found it quite irritating, but considering it was just a plant, he spared it.
Early the next morning, after calmly having breakfast at the inn, the family of three led their horses and departed.
Not far away, Elder Yingzun was also preparing to leave with Fang Jie and Fang Ling.
Fang Jie asked, “Master, are you sure about saving them back then? They don’t even know that you saved them. They haven’t even said ‘thank you.’”
Elder Yingzun chuckled. “This old man didn’t save people for repayment.”
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen overheard their conversation and exchanged a puzzled glance.
Yan Ge quietly recalled the situation from that day and whispered, “Zirui, I remember now. When we were fighting the Zhantian Vine, it seemed like someone was planning to take advantage of the situation, but someone stopped them. I was too focused on dealing with the vine and didn’t pay attention. That person who helped must have been elder Yingzun.”
Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment, then landed in front of Elder Yingzun and handed him a delicate porcelain bottle containing the Huiyuan Pills.
“Thank you, senior, for helping our family that day. This pill is crucial and can save your life in a critical moment.”
Without waiting for Elder Yingzun to speak, he nodded at him and flew away.
“Master, what kind of medicine is this? Is it really that amazing?” Fang Ling curiously approached.
Elder Yingzun smiled faintly, “The person who helped us must be extraordinary. Let’s go.”
Yan Ge generously spent another thirty-five thousand taels of silver to buy another Huiyuan Pill for Huangfu Yuchen.
“Baby, the abandoned city is nearby. Are you interested in taking a look?” Huangfu Yuchen asked while riding swiftly.
Yan Ge asked, “Abandoned city? What’s so special about it?”
The wind blew through his hair, and the charming smile on Huangfu Yuchen’s face made Yan Ge’s heart skip a beat.
“The Abandoned City is not actually an abandoned city, but Rong County. It is located amidst the mountains, where the people are almost isolated from the world. They hardly leave the mountains throughout the year because it’s extremely difficult to do so. Consequently, the people there are very impoverished. The former emperor planned to relocate the entire county, but the residents strongly resisted, to the point of almost inciting a rebellion. The former emperor had no choice but to abandon the plan.”
Yan Ge expressed his understanding, “There’s a saying, ‘One finds it difficult to leave their homeland.’ However, with abundant resources in the mountains, even if they can’t interact with the outside world, they should be living decently. I can’t understand why they are so impoverished.”
Huangfu Yuchen shook his head, “After I ascended the throne, I immediately sent people to investigate the situation there. It’s extremely complicated.”
“Then let’s go and see.” The more challenging it is to transform a place, the more interested Yan Ge became in taking on the challenge.
They rode swiftly for more than sixty miles, gradually seeing no signs of human habitation. However, beneath the azure sky that resembled satin, the mountains along the road were adorned with lush greenery, and colorful flowers competed for attention, creating a visual feast that intoxicated the senses.
Huangfu Yuchen reined in his horse and pointed to a dirt road sandwiched between two mountains, connecting to the official road. “From here, it’s about forty-something miles to Rong County.”
“Forty miles isn’t far. Let’s hurry on.” Yan Ge expressed his disbelief. Unbeknownst to him, a mischievous smile played at the corner of Huangfu Yuchen’s lips.
After running around the mountain road for more than thirty circuits without reaching their destination, Yan Ge panted as he slumped over his horse. These were not towering mountains, but rather slender and tall ones, resembling pillars. They had been circling around the base of the mountains all along, and the road, having been left unused for years, was full of potholes. Even riding on horseback was uncomfortable due to the constant jolting.
“You… You said it’s only forty-something miles. My head is spinning…”
“Father cheated again.” Yan Jin descended leisurely from the sky.
Yan Ge: “…” ‘Cheated’ is not used in this context.
“I only said Rong County is about forty miles away. I didn’t say we were left with forty miles to reach.” Huangfu Yuchen suppressed his laughter, dismounted, and walked over to Yan Ge, patting his buttocks and giving them a rub. “We’re definitely going to spend the night in the mountains. Come down, I’ll make you something delicious.”
“You?” Yan Ge rested his chin on his hand, looking down on him disdainfully.
Huangfu Yuchen handed him the reins, and in a flash, he disappeared into the forest.
Not long after, he returned carrying three neatly processed wild chickens. The three chickens were tied together with a sturdy wild grass.
Yan Ge was still slumped over his horse, looking at him with a smile.
Huangfu Yuchen didn’t rush him either. He hung the three chickens on a tree branch and flew back into the forest, soon returning with a pile of firewood. He calmly took out a dagger from his pouch and made numerous small cuts on the chickens, then coated them with seasoning before igniting the fire to start grilling.
When the enticing aroma began to waft through the air, Yan Ge flew over with a swoosh and landed beside him, sitting close to him. “My Zirui is amazing. Can we eat now?”
“Just wait a bit longer.” Huangfu Yuchen threw a few dried red things like chili peppers that he bought from Xiguan Pass into the fire.
“What’s that for?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “To give the chicken a hint of spiciness without being too hot.”
“I didn’t expect you to be skilled in this too.” Yan Ge remarked in surprise.
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “Do you remember me mentioning that I had been on the battlefield before?”
Yan Ge looked astonished, “Was it in the Xiguan Pass?”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded, “This technique was learned from an old soldier back then.”
After the wild chickens were grilled, each of them took one and began tearing into it, their mouths smeared with grease.
“Delicious?” Huangfu Yuchen wiped away the oil stain at the corner of Yan Ge’s mouth with his thumb.
“Delicious.” Yan Ge nodded.
“After daybreak, I’ll catch a few more wild chickens.”
“Little Jin and I will help you.”
