Chapter 14

As if in response, a cold breeze blew through the window, carrying the smell of wetness, as if it was going to rain.

    "Brother," Hua Ling continued, "I heard that you still have a grandfather, but I don't even have a grandfather anymore."

    Hua Ling's maternal grandfather was a Ping Chang Waiter, who used to guard the southern frontier. Seventeen years ago, a war suddenly started at the border, but it was not too big at the time, just a small battle.

    On one occasion, when the enemy sent 500 soldiers to provoke them, Pingchang and his son led 1,000 light cavalry to meet them. More than 1,000 men disappeared into thin air, never to be seen again.

    When news reached the court, some said that the father and son had died in the service of the country, while others said that Pingchang had already had second thoughts and must have defected to the enemy. In short, there were different stories. However, most people, including the Emperor, believed that Pingchang had defected to the enemy camp. Otherwise, why would he have been defeated if he had been outnumbered and outgunned? Even if he was defeated, why would he not be seen alive and dead?

    But there was no evidence of collaboration with the enemy, so the case was left open. After the disappearance of Pingchang and his son, the Emperor sent Yan Shi's grandfather, Lord An Guo, to take over.

    "Soon after my grandfather and my uncle disappeared, my mother became ill and died." Hua Ling lowered his head and spoke softly, he was already thin and frail and now sat hunched over showing even more loneliness.

    It had to be said that Hua Ling and Yan Shi had some of the same experiences. Both had lost their mothers at a young age, both were the eldest son but not favoured, both had military power in their mother's family, and both had guarded the southern frontier.

    "Mingting..." Yan Shi wanted to comfort him, but did not know what words to say.

    "Brother, I'm fine." Hua Ling slowly lifted his head up, blinking his big, pretty eyes and curving his lips again, "I have you now."

    "Mingting," Yan Maki decided to say it even though he knew the next words would hurt, "I have no half-hearted love for you."

    There was a thunderclap in the distance, but Hua Ling felt that Yan Shi's words scared him even more than the thunderclap: "What does brother mean? Don't you want me anymore?"

    "I don't mean that." Looking at Hua Ling's scared look, Yan Shi regretted saying it so bluntly, but he had to say it now, "Mingting, we have only known each other for a few days, you understand what I mean, right?"

    He wanted to draw Hua Ling in, but he did not want to deceive him with his feelings, and I must say that Yan Shi was a true gentleman.

    Hua Ling's eyes were a little red: "If you don't have me in your heart, then why did you marry me?"

    "Mingting, having said that, there is something I have to tell you, but I don't know if you will believe me." Yan Maki said.

    "Please speak," Hua Ling's mood instantly became a little low, "I will believe whatever brother says."

    "That night in the cave was just an accident, I didn't want it, I was drugged."

    The talisman that Yan Shi took to Qingji, Qingji had someone examine it, the inside was indeed impregnated with medicine, the medicine was not colourless and tasteless, instead it had a hint of light fragrance. If it were normal, Yan Shi would not have been careless, but on the day of the wedding, the fragrance was everywhere, so Yan Shi was not prepared.

    Before that, Yan Shi had not thought of telling Hua Ling about it, for Yang had been his mother for almost twenty years. He had only known him for three days, so he was afraid that Hua Ling would not believe him. But now that he had said this, he wanted to give it a try, to take advantage of Hua Ling's suspicion of Yang and add fuel to the fire. So Yan Shi told him what had happened.

    Hua Ling was silent for a long time, his fists clenching and unclenching as the rain fell even harder outside, and Hua Ling looked straight out of the window for a while before saying, "Brother, I believe you."

    Yan Shi was a bit surprised, but his face did not look like he was faking.

    Hua Ling said again, "Do you have someone you like?"

    Yan Shi didn't know why the conversation had come back around, but he replied, "No."

    "Then that means there is still hope for me," Hua Ling's originally dull eyes brightened up again, "Brother, can I court you then?"

    Yan Shi didn't expect Hua Ling to say that, so he was slightly stunned, and after a few moments he slowly said, "Yes, you can."

    "Then I'm relieved," Hua Ling patted her chest, his gaze devout and determined, "Brother, I will definitely chase you."

    Yan Shi's face actually blushed in a rare moment.

    "Brother, I'm not going to lie, I was a little worried before I married over." Hua Ling smiled faintly, "I knew more or less about my father and His Highness Prince Zhaoge, as well as your affair with His Highness Prince Zhaoge. I was really afraid that my brother would be angry with me for my father's sake, but he wasn't. When I was on my knees for a long time, I couldn't stand up, and I fell in love with you the moment you picked me up. There are few people in this world who are as clear about their grievances as you are, and there are even fewer who are as gentle as you are. Brother, I've seen how you've taken me these past few days, and I've taken it to heart. I am not stupid."

    "I am, not as good as you say I am." Yan Shi did not think that he would be like this in Hua Ling's heart, he originally thought that Hua Ling was only doing his duty to him as a husband and husband, but he did not think that it was because he liked him.

    "Brother is very good, very, very good." Hua Ling's gaze was very firm, "There is no better person in this world than you."

    Without you, I wouldn't be the person I am today. But I lied to you, and I hope you can understand my pain. Don't worry, I will let you sit on that dragon chair!

    No one had ever said such blunt words to Yan Shi, not even his own sister, Princess Huijia, and once again Yan Shi blushed.

    "Brother, can I discuss something with you?" Yan Shi's face tickled Hua Ling's heart, but he could not show it in front of him, so he had to change the subject, "Mute Sister and I are called master and servant, but in reality I am like her own grandson. She is happier than even I am when she knows I am married, and I don't want her to worry about me any more. So, brother, can you stay here? You take the bed and I will just sleep on the couch outside."

    Hua Ling's request was not too much, and Yan Shi said, "You can still sleep on this bed, and I will sleep on that couch."

    "How can I do that," Hua Ling refused, "this is your room, so if you come here, you'll be taking over."

    Yan Shi said, "There is nothing wrong with that, you have been sleeping here for the past few days, so don't change your place. I have my internal energy to protect my body, so it's the same wherever I sleep. It's decided, it's getting late, so get some rest."

    After saying this, Yan Shi found a futon and laid it on the couch outside and went to sleep.

    Hua Ling's eyes looked there, the corners of his mouth curved up, he had already left the person in this room, he was not far from turning to the bed.

*Clears Throat, Show some encouragement by voting, it's not easy to translate😊😊🙄🙄*