Inside the tent, Li Yun was sitting in a bench while occasionally rubbing his hands to produce some heat.
Ling Xiao observed the figure of his soon to be lover. He was very cute while dazing and very adorable when secretly peeking at him.
Well, he should not forced this fellow to surrender his heart to him. First, he needed to removed the effect of the imperial decree that was given to him to pave the way for his real lover. Then, he needed to secure the throne until it was passed to him. Afterwards, made a compensation to the losing party (Li Yan's reputation damage) to show his benevolence and later ask for the hand of his cute but brave future wife from their family.
It will be a a hard straining work but it will be... worth it. Whatever the outcome is, he will make sure that Li Yun will be his main wife, his only wife. Even if he was a man and cannot gave birth.
' Well, a heir was not a problem because they can adopt, right? '
Li Yun's eyelids were very heavy, he closed his eyes and fallen asleep. He was not aware of the plans that the other man in the room was planning.
If he knew it, Li Yun will be jumping in joy. He did not only avoided his death , the crowned prince also planned to mend the damages that his royal self (Ling Xiao) caused to the protagonist.
Overall, his mission will be accomplished! Not only the two people reconciled, they even avoided their own demise and deaths.(The protagonist was an exception. Li Yan was bathed in glory after their death. Haha.)
Unfortunatelly, Li Yun can't read Ling Xiao's mind.
Ling Xiao noticed that the cute lovable figure at the bench soon fell asleep. He grabbed a blanket nearby, carried the asleep person horizontally towards his bed, laid him gently and covered the person's body gently. He sat at a vacant chair and contemplate how his royal self fell inlove to this young man who was sleeping at his tent.
He kept thinking and what came out was...that the other party since the incident, was particularly gentle, more hardworking and more carefree.
He didn't know when he really fall inlove but the most peculiar thing was the other party didn't use underhanded means such as touching, seducing or even kissing.
He was like a moth who suddenly saw a fire. A fire called Li Yun. He can't help but be near him, even if his life was at stake, he will still dare to touched it!
' Was that the reason he fell inlove? '
He didn't know the exact reason because it was also unknown to him. He was just making assumptions.
Maybe, liking a person was not only for his physical appearance but also his inner self.
He was attracted to his actions, even the negative or positive ones. Li Yun's slacking, pouting, crying, blushing, smiling and also his angry expression, he loved it all, even his seriousness when dealing with the battlefield matters.
Unlike Li Yan, he only liked his face. He know that underneath that beautiful face was poisonous schemes.
He know Li Yan was kind but only when he was around. He was unaware of his bad side until the sudden kiss. It showed that he kissed him when a witness was still around. Even if there was no one around, he still felt that Li Yan crossed his bottom line.
The bottom line of their friendship.
He made a sweet action, coated with lethal double-edge poison.
Li Yan was a skilled person. He knew someone was around that time and Ling Xiao was aware of it.
Li Yan's aim was that the witness will spread the rumors about their affair then Li Yan will act pitiful to the emperor through the help of his father. Then an imperial decree will descend.
At first, he was indeed blind. He was blinded of the beautiful face and smile of Li Yan. He was his friend so it was not a problem to be married to him but his eyes were now clear because of Li Yun.
He will not waste the feelings he held for his beloved for a certain schemer.
But why Li Yan will do it? What was his real aim?
If you will ask the certain person who was currently in dreamland, he will lift his head high and flicked his finger at your forehead and said to you.
" You're an idiot! The fudge! It was obvious, ah! Li Yan was a social climber envious b*tch but he's still the protagonist so just support him! "
If you asked him that in modern times that will be his answer... but if in this world, he will arched his eyebrow then throw a half bitten osmathus cake at your face saying:
" He just wanted power, that's all. He didn't want the emperor because of his imperial harem collection. He did wanted the crowned prince to be his stepping stone to riches but having a back-up in the name of the second prince was also not bad. "
'Who didn't wanted back-ups, ah?! '
Li Yan was indeed the oldest son of Official Li but he was concubine born unlike Li Yun, who was born from the legal wife but because he was a gifted man, he was still being taken cared of by their father since his concubine mother's death.
Li Yan was often secretly abused by his step-mother which was Li Yun's mother and his concubine birth mother was already dead so, he can only rely on himself and luck finally felt pity on him because soon, the legal wife of his father died and the position for the main wife remained empty.
Since then, Li Yan strived to curry favor towards their father which he splendidly did! From music to arts and from paintings to poems, it's all gorgeous that even the public knew his name .
One day, an imperial family member who was in a carriage drew a huge attention. He saw with his very own eyes how the respectful bowing crowd acted while the carriage was passing the streets.
He envied it and knew he will also attain it if he married a prince, the powerful... the better.
He befriended the second prince at the royal banquet hosted by the empress when he was still a kid.
This chance only came when his father brought him to the palace and Li Yun as guests.
He was happy at the palace while he mingled with the royalties and proceed to his well made plan. Li Yun was also there but he stayed at a conspicious corner of the table.
Li Yan wandered at the palace garden and saw a bustling crowd.
When a higher offer and rewards was around, who will pass from that chance?
He saw the handsome young crowned prince being avoided by the aristocrats. He approach him and threw a gentle smile at him and also befriend him.
Years had passed, Li Yan was appointed as a scholar at the palace. He served under the princes and successfully seduced the second prince but with the crowned prince? It was all in vain.
He resorted on having a public display of affection to tarnished the crowned prince's situation and it worked.
An imperial decree was sent but in return, the second prince was angry and jealous to his older brother while completely unaware that there's a pre-arranged marriage between the two families that were ignored.
Ling Zhen decided to conspire with the enemy nation to ger rid of Ling Xiao. He exposed Ling Xiao's battle tactics and he even prepared his personally made poisoned arrows that even poison masters will have to work hard to be able to treat it. If his plans suceeded, it will not only allevate his status but also he will be with Li Yan.
Ling Zhen sent some of his men to bring the arrows to the enemy camp and when they returned, someone reported that Li Yan was at the crowned prince's camp.
He was angered but he hurriedly calmed himself. It will not be too long before his brother's army will collapse! To perfect Ling Zhen's plan, he decided to be the reinforcement troops that his brother will rely on critical times. He planned to stole the achievements of his soon to be dead brother by killing the enemy.
A few months later, Ling Zhen's plan will now proceed. He decided to go to the battlefield to watch the fall of his dear brother when his servant reported that Li Yan had also go there.
He accompanied Li Yan to the capital to protect him from being attacked again by the bandits while sending his 'reinforcement' to the army camp and he sincerely expressed his pure feelings toward him. He also told that Li Yan will be a widow before he even married Ling Xiao. He also told his well crafted plans to Li Yan that made the person cried but later, he cried with a hint of joy. Ling Zhen finally attained the other man's affection and they made love at the carriage.
Ling Zhen was awakened by a sudden report that a spy saw what transpired between him and Li Yan. He frowned then ordered to kill the spies but one person escaped with heavy injuries. The last spy reached the crowned prince's camp and reported it to the nearest person who was...
Xiao Ping was idling and a comrade who served under the crowned prince reported to him and thus this made him make a detailed report. He didn't forget to write his last words in the letter because he know that he'll be dead before he delivered the letter to the prince because he can sensed that there was an enemy lurking around and he was right.
He was pierced by a sword and pretended to lie motionless. The enemy left without confirming his death. Xiao Ping with his heavy injuries and heavy loss of blood carried the letter to the prince but the prince's tent was too far so he gave it to his friend, Li Yun.
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