AMLFS Chapter 99
by VolareChapter 100: Stubborn
While answering, Song Huaixi got up from the couch and handed her the raisin pie at hand, “Sister Lanfeng, try this, it’s delicious.”
The plate was filled with unremarkable pies, but such pastries were rare in the military camp. Only Song Huaixi would have these little things around him.
“Really? Thank you, Huaixi.” Sikou Lanfeng took one and tasted it. The crust of the pie was crispy, and it was filled with raisins, a common ingredient in the Northwest.
Although it was a land of yellow sand, there were some places with good soil and water. It was perfect for growing grapes.
The fresh grapes had been tempered by the Northwest wind, and the outer skin became shriveled, leaving only the sweet and sour taste inside. It complemented the crispy crust of the pie perfectly.
“Yes, it’s quite delicious, crispy, sour, and sweet,” Sikou Lanfeng agreed, holding the pie in her hand.
“Right? It’s really delicious!”
Seeing that she liked it, Song Huaixi was also happy. He continued, “The uncle who made the pie said it was made with freshly dried raisins from here. It’s sour and sweet and very delicious.”
Song Huaixi didn’t like things that were too sweet, and this one suited his taste very well. There wasn’t much good stuff in the Northwest, and fresh vegetables and fruits were more expensive than meat.
He also didn’t like eating meat, so this little pastry was one of the few things he liked to eat since he came here.
Seeing him eating one after another, it was clear that he liked them very much. Sikou Lanfeng said, “If Huaixi likes it, eat more while you can. When we leave, you won’t be able to eat these freshly dried Northwest raisins.”
Leave? Song Huaixi was surprised to hear this. He then asked, “Sister Lanfeng, where are we going?”
“Back to the capital.” Sikou Lanfeng’s eyes flashed.
In the Court, news of the defeat at the front lines reached the imperial court. The entire court was in an uproar.
Xiao Taiwei led an army three times the size of Zhao Fangye’s, yet it was completely wiped out?!
The emperor was furious, his face full of disbelief. He slumped back on the dragon throne.
He couldn’t believe that Zhao Fangye would have such great ability. A sense of crisis welled up and swept through his entire heart.
The court was even more panicked. They vaguely felt that the dynasty’s fate might be changing.
No one had ever imagined that the unpopular eldest prince would have such abilities.
Now the troops sent out had been besieged, and the Crown Prince’s life was uncertain. Once Zhao Fangye’s forces moved north, they wouldn’t even have the ability to resist.
The emperor also panicked, angrily sweeping everything off the table: “A bunch of useless people! All useless people!!”
The Son of Heaven was no longer imposing. After venting the anger in his chest.
He barely regained his composure, pointed at the ministers kneeling on the ground, and roared, “No, send someone to stop him immediately! He must not be allowed to enter the capital alive! Go now!”
As he spoke, he slammed the things at hand towards the ministers on the ground.
The ministers below knelt down in a mass, and those who were unlucky were affected by the emperor’s anger, with blood dripping from their foreheads.
What made it even more difficult for them was that now, apart from the Imperial Guard in the capital, where else could they find anyone to use? Moreover, the national treasury was already empty.
Even if they immediately recruited troops and bought horses, there would be no money…
But the emperor was in a fit of anger, and no one would be foolish enough to provoke him. They could only tremble and accept the order to carry it out.
As soon as they walked out of the main hall, the wrinkles between the brows of those ministers of the Ministry of War could kill a fly. They looked at each other, their eyes full of helplessness.
What to do? It was simply a fantasy.
As the saying goes, a clever woman cannot cook without rice. Where would they recruit troops and buy horses without money?
The ministers in the court who had been parasites in recent years were all rich, but now the situation was turbulent, and everyone was watching. At the first sign of trouble, they planned to pack up and leave. Who would be willing to pay out of their own pockets?
It was really difficult.
Northwest, in the camp.
Zhang Yuan, who came to report on military affairs, saw Zhao Fangye sitting behind his desk when he entered, holding a letter in his hand. His face had an imperceptible smile.
He was also curious about what could make the prince so happy, but he didn’t ask much and stood in front of the desk to report: “Your Highness, all the troops and supplies have been counted, and the army is ready to set off at any time.”
A few days ago, Zhao Fangye decided to attack the capital in one fell swoop, and the entire military camp had already begun preparations. Except for some wounded soldiers who were left in the Northwest to be treated, the rest followed Zhao Fangye to the capital.
“Yes.” Zhao Fangye didn’t raise his eyes and lit the letter in his hand on the candle flame: “The army will set off tomorrow and go to Yangshan Pass to join the army led by Sun Shu.”
“Sun Shu?! Sun Shu is at Yangshan Pass?”
He seemed a little excited when he heard the news of Sun Shu. He hadn’t heard from Sun Shu for several months, and he was pleasantly surprised to hear it suddenly.
“Good, good, good! I’ll go arrange for the army to set off.” Zhang Yuan got the news and quickly turned around to prepare.
He and Sun Shu had a very good relationship. They had worked together with Zhao Fangye for many years, and the two were like brothers. However, Sun Shu followed Zhao Fangye when he returned to the capital, while he stayed in the Northwest for a longer period.
Zhang Yuan originally thought that Sun Shu would also come back when Zhao Fangye returned to the Northwest this time, but he didn’t expect that he had been assigned a secret mission by Zhao Fangye.
But it didn’t matter. He could have a good gathering with him when he arrived at Yangshan Pass.
Zhao Fangye returned to the tent, and Song Huaixi was sitting on the couch with a picture book in his hand, but he wasn’t in the mood to look at it.
A pair of dull, round eyes were lightly closed, leaning against the couch and dozing off.
He was clearly extremely sleepy, but he stubbornly sat and waited for Zhao Fangye to come back before he would go to bed.
Zhao Fangye took off his outer robe and walked towards him, casually extinguishing the candles in the tent, leaving only one lamp in front of his couch.
Song Huaixi liked to sleep with the lights on, and he had always remembered this little habit. He would leave a lamp in front of his bed every night. Zhao Fangye’s movements were gentle and hardly disturbed Song Huaixi.
Song Huaixi leaned against the soft pillow on the couch, his fair fingers loosely holding the picture book. A pretty face was tilted, thick eyelashes drooping down, his nose was small and delicate, and his moist red lips were slightly open.
It was a very well-behaved appearance, beautiful, clean, and endearing. Zhao Fangye pulled up a chair and quietly looked at him for a while in front of the couch. He could never get enough of looking at this jade-like person in front of him.
The more he looked, the more his love overflowed, uncontrollably.
Zhao Fangye couldn’t help but reach out and play with his raven-like long eyelashes, giving the sleeping man a few signs of waking up.
Song Huaixi felt a shadow blocking his vision, and before he could see clearly, he called out, “Zhao Fangye…”
The sleepy nasal voice carried a strong sense of attachment that he himself didn’t realize. Song Huaixi blinked his eyes as if he was still in a dream.
His hand unconsciously reached towards Zhao Fangye’s neck, naturally and affectionately.
“Awake?” Zhao Fangye’s deep voice was full of tenderness, and he followed his movements to hug him onto his lap.
During the movement, the book in Song Huaixi’s hand was not held firmly. With a thud, it fell to the ground.
Song Huaixi seemed to wake up a lot in this not-so-loud sound, and muttered in a low voice, “Oh, the picture book fell. I like this one the most…”
The warm breath sprayed on Zhao Fangye’s ear, and the soft tone was inexplicably moving.
He freed one hand to pick up the picture book that had fallen on the ground and placed it on the small table in front of the couch, while stroking the back of the person in his arms.
Zhao Fangye smiled and asked knowingly, “Why aren’t you asleep if you’re sleepy? Was Huaixi waiting for me?”
This was an obvious answer, but Zhao Fangye still wanted to hear him tell him personally.
Hearing this, Song Huaixi squinted his eyes, hugged Zhao Fangye’s neck, and rubbed against him like a little beast, wrapping himself completely in Zhao Fangye’s arms and said lazily, “Yes, waiting for you.”
Song Huaixi always felt that if he fell asleep first, he wouldn’t see Zhao Fangye when he came back. Then the number of times he saw Zhao Fangye today would be one less.
A whole night, many hours. To him, that was a long time not seeing Zhao Fangye.