Chapter 208: 行云， Tingyun，巫山云雨。

Under Yan Yuanheng's shocked gaze, Shi Tingyun blandly said, "You are twenty years old. Isn't it not unusual to have a side consort."

Seeing Shi Tingyun so calm, Yan Yuanheng had no choice but to force himself to be calm: "You are even older than me. Why are you ......"

Shi Tingyun touched a flat stone while it was still in his hand and angled it over the water to make a string of watery drops, "I'm not like you."

Yan Yuanheng paused, thinking of what Shi Tingyun had told him, and was speechless.

He tilted his head, his expression slightly dark.

Seeing the stalemate in the atmosphere, Shi Tingyun tried to harmonize, "I don't know what that Southern Border Princess looks like."

Yan Yuanheng 木脸："...... don't know."

Shi Tingyun simply turned to business: "After the agreement to stop the war, the flag counties near Cangjiang sent hundreds of old wine, and father said that the generals of the main camp will be drunk tonight."

Yan Yuanheng: "Uh-huh."

Shi Tingyun laughed: "You won't be able to drink it, so if I tell you about it, I'll just be able to enjoy it."

Yan Yuanheng : "...... hmmm."

Shi Tingyun never minded Yan Yuanheng's one-word responses; he had been a heavy-hearted man since he was a child, and he was silent either because he was thinking or because he was listening.

Shi Tingyun was about to speak again, but Yan Yuanheng opened his mouth first.

"I will not marry her." Yan Yuanheng sullenly said, "I won't marry someone I don't know."

"That would be the end of it." Shi Tingyun laughed, "Many of the daughters of Wangcheng's great families are kept in deep chambers. Which of the few unmarried daughters we know well, who love to write poetry and play soccer, aren't going after Yuanzhao?"

He looked to the Yan Yuanzhao not far away from the battle of the geese, smiled and said: "...... If I was born as a woman, also love Yuanzhao. Deep women do not love him, think that he is frivolous, but play with him for some time to know, Yuanzhao interesting temperament, know how to get in and out of the status of a solid, and seek a man of the heart, the whole can be considered a good match. He is a good match for a man who wants to be with him."

Yan Yuanheng hung his head, no longer even interested in saying "hmm" or responding to the story.

Shi Tingyun seemed to have remembered something and gave an excited "hmmm?" He made a sound and continued, "Yuanheng, are you talking about Qiu Ying, the daughter of Minister Qiu? You have met her since childhood, although she is in the women's school, but she is also considered to have the friendship of the same classmates with us, and her status and age are all quite ...... surely she is the one."

Yan Yuanheng had thought of this before he went to the border, but Shi Tingyun's revelation, in a joking tone, made him feel as if he were on fire.

His voice sank, "I have never known, I have never known, that Su Chang has this kind of compassion for the women of Wangcheng, and is as good as his own."

Shi Tingyun : "Isn't this for you to look at?"

Yan Yuanheng gambled as if, "Princess of the Southern Border, daughter of Minister Qiu, I don't want any of them."

Shi Tingyun: "So what do you want?"

Yan Yuanheng: "I ......"

He stopped.

What does Yan Yuanheng really want?

His eyes were slightly hot, and he lowered his eyelashes, thinking of his mother, who was still living in misery in another palace, and of his grand ambitions - the kind of grand ambitions that every prince secretly had.

Yan Yuanheng originally by the emperor's eyes, so old, still not out of the palace to build a house, stay in the palace to teach, and after nearly a year of the battle of Zhennan Pass, he chopped off the head of the sword Pa Sha, established a war, but also stood on an unprecedented height.

It would be difficult for any prince to look at him again.

He should marry the daughter of Minister Qiu. That's a first-rate gold, and with his father's acquiescence, he should be the most compatible with himself, and then he should marry the Princess of the Southern Border, and then in the next year, he should have a living, breathing child.

My father had expectations, and my mother looked forward to her own ascension to the throne of honor in the ninth heaven, as well as a lifetime of grandeur, the dream of the family and the country.

These things do weigh a thousand pounds, but compared to Su Chang ......

...... But why compare it to Su Chang again?

What does he, Yan Yuanheng, think of his childhood friend?

Su Chang is waiting for his response while he fantasizes about spending his life with him inside a military camp in a frontier land?

Yan Yuanheng tongue gradually sour.

These past few days, he had been sorting out his own affairs of the heart, but only now, stimulated by a woman he had never met, a woman he had forgotten what she looked like, did he suddenly realize that his feelings for Su Chang seemed to be not quite right.

But what can be done.

As a prince, can he openly marry Shi Tingyun? Can he give Shi Tingyun the promise of a lifetime of love?

In this regard, he was even worse than the Sixth Imperial Brother ah.

If Shi Tingyun had an affair with himself, he would end up with a ruined reputation. A hundred generations later, when the world mentions Shi Tingyun again, it will not talk about his achievements, but will only talk about a young general's affair with the prince, about his looks, about his "charming technique".

But if he doesn't disclose it, is he to live under a cloud of secrecy for the rest of his life?

Yan Yuanheng's heart and eyes were all chilled by the river wind.

Shi Tingyun saw that he was silent for a long time and asked again, "Dare I ask the Thirteenth Prince what he wants?"

Yan Yuanheng hung his eyes for a long time, then raised his head and looked up to the sky.

Shi Tingyun Followed his gaze and saw long clouds like scales, traveling with the wind, a thousand shapes and images, competing with the empty realm.

He said, "Remember the poem we memorized when we were kids."

"There is nothing in the mountains, but many white clouds on the ridge. I can only be happy with myself, but I can't hold it to give it to you."

Shi Tingyun : "Yes. Tao Hongjing's poem."

Yan Yuanheng called him, "Shi Tingyun."

Shi Tingyun raised his eyes.

Yan Yuanheng : "I was just thinking that there are thousands and thousands of people in the world, and I'm not the one who deserves to stay in the clouds."

Before Shi Tingyun could return to his senses, Yan Yuanheng rose, saluted, and turned away.

His heart twisted with each step he took.

Perhaps, when Tingyun finds the person of his choice, his heart will also die on that day.

Yan Yuanheng walked faster and faster, at the same time reaching into his pocket, he fished out the wine jug carved with laurel and clutched it to his chest.

It was Shi Tingyun's, and after drinking from it himself, he threw the jug to the soldier and forgot to ask for it back.

Yan Yuanheng had wanted Shi Tingyun to come to him to ask for it, but he had let it go until today.

He didn't know what kind of plan he had in mind when he brought this wine pot with him to find Shi Tingyun today.

But it wasn't delivered, so what's the point of thinking about it.

...... He couldn't even give away a jug.

Holding the wine pot, Yan Yuanheng fell into deep self-loathing.

--His avoidance, after all, had nothing to do with those speculations.

Shi Tingyun probably doesn't even like him.

If Tingyun is truly happy with him, what can he not do?

Yan Yuanheng all the way back to the camp, into the tent, sat on the side of the couch, took out the wine pot, in the palm of the rubbing for a while, I do not know from where the courage to hold tight to the wine pot, open the lid of the wine pot hanging with the silver pouch, close your eyes, and pour down the mouth of the pot in one breath.

He raised two small black turtles seem to feel, from Xiaochi sub floated out of the two round small head, survey him for a while, and gurgling climbed back into the pool.

Shi Tingyun looked at Yan Yuanheng's back and was speechless for a moment.

While he was musing, Yan Yuanzhao returned, surprisingly covered in goose feathers, carrying in his hand the neck of a large goose, its beak covered with sharp teeth and both palms tied up with his belt.

...... And he really caught one back.

Yan Yuanzhao's long hair was already in disarray, so he simply liberated it and draped it over his shoulders, "It's just a goose, do you think your Sixth Master won't be able to catch it?"

Shi Tingyun: "Said not two?"

Yan Yuanzhao spits at him, "Fuck you, easy for you to say, go catch two."

Shi Tingyun laughs.

As soon as Yan Yuanzhao put the tied-up geese down, he began to have bad feelings again: "When I get back, I'll raise a flock of geese in the backyard, and then I'll trick Jin Rou into telling her to go catch them."

He paused and added, "But I have to stay with her. Otherwise she'll have to be bitten and cry."

Shi Tingyun wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes and thought, Fruitful.

This is probably Yan Yuanzhao's love.

Yuanzhao looks like a wanderer, but in his heart he yearns for stability.

He had also met Jin Rou and knew that she was not a vulgar woman, and that she could develop a relationship with Yuanzhao.

But I don't know when Yuanzhao will be able to recognize his own feelings.

Yan Yuanzhao and Shi Tingyun picked the goose feathers together.

Dusting his knees down, he said, "Yesterday, Yuanheng piped in a few soldiers to borrow a local clay cigarette."

Shi Tingyun hmmm'd.

"You idly mentioned at dinner yesterday that there are always birds chirping these days, making it impossible to sleep." Yan Yuanzhao said, "He played his flute not far from your tent yesterday, and played all night, and drove the birds away with a long pole."

He continued, "That smoke is strong. As you know, he's set to rise and rest his body daily, and he can only rely on smoking that stuff to refresh himself."

Shi Tingyun said, "Why do you say that?"

"It's okay, just tell it as a joke." Yan Yuanzhao shrugged lightly, "He's just a fool, Li Yeshu was transferred to General Shi's side, so he'll just look for another two soldiers to chase the birds, or else he has a few available guards. If you leave it to them, are you so uneasy?"

Shi Tingyun kept his mouth shut.

Yan Yuanzhao raised one knee and said, "Sixth Master never fights for what he can't get. But if I can get it, I will never let it go. If I like it, I don't care how the world speaks, I've got this hundred years of pleasure, how can those fools enjoy it. A hundred years after the indiscriminate chewing of tongues, a thousand years later will also be reduced to dust and ashes."

Chi Xiaochi, on behalf of Shi Tingyun, asked, "You have got the rapture, but what if the other party has only brotherly love for him?"

Yan Yuanzhao didn't care: "Then we have to make it clear. If you understand, you'll be a brother for life; if you don't, you'll be confused for life."

It didn't matter if Shi Tingyun understood, but Chi Xiaochi understood that it was indeed time to leave.

Around ...... he had almost cashed out the physical warehouse, and even a second spare card bin had been set up.

In the middle of the night, there was singing and dancing in the main camp.

The soldiers of southern border nationality sang the southern border folk songs, the Central Plains of the southern accent sang the yellow plum opera and commentary, there are not many good singers, most are desolate, but with the southern border wine and roasted squeaky oil lamb meat, but it is a different flavor.

Shi Tingyun and Yan Yuanheng were nowhere to be seen in this clamor.

In the cool autumn wind, Yan Yuanzhao found Shi Tingyun near the barracks.

He was walking back and forth, his boots making a subtle watery sound on the wet, soft mud.

Yan Yuanzhao, already drunk, reached out to him, "What are you doing? Go drink."

Shi Tingyun glanced at the hand he was holding, then looked up carefully into his eyes for a moment to make sure that it was warm and that there was light in his eyes before he let go.

He said, "Patrol, lest any enemy invade in the night."

"Where did the enemy come from?" Yan Yuanzhao was furious and amused, "The Southern Border surrendered and withdrew their troops for a hundred miles, besides, only the main camp is celebrating, the peripheral outposts extend out for ten or so miles, it can't be any safer."

Yan Yuanzhao gave him a hand, "Hurry up, hurry up, Yuanheng let his horse go in the evening, and I don't know where he went; those lieutenants are all honoring me, it's no fun, it's better to drink with you. Go ......."

Before the words fell out of his mouth, he reached out and touched Shi Tingyun's palm and realized that something was wrong, then when he took a look at Shi Tingyun's forehead, his face looked even more unsightly: "You're doing something to die, aren't you? You're still out in the wind after being burned like this?"

Shi Tingyun's peach blossom eyes burned straight with watery light and looked at him fixedly, "...... Yuanzhao."

"Zhao your head." Yan Yuanzhao tugged him towards his tent without being told, "If this lets your husband know ......"

At this point, Yan Yuanzhao snapped.

...... "Mr. His Family", who was that again?

Yan Yuanzhao's character is such that he can't figure it out, so he doesn't think about it.

Walking up to the tent, Shi Tingyun glanced at the raised curtains.

He remembered that when his benefactor left today, he was not assured of the safety of the barracks, and had lowered the tent curtain when he left the tent to inspect.

He gave Yan Yuanzhao a shove, "It's done here, go drink. I'm not burnt out and can take care of myself."

Yan Yuanzhao wondered, "You're not running off to patrol the border again, are you?"

Shi Tingyun coughed lowly twice and smirked, "So are you going to send me to bed."

Yan Yuanzhao, too disgusted to help himself, pushed him in the back, "Roll, roll, roll, roll in. Master Six will see you roll."

Shi Tingyun took a deep breath, leaned into the tent, and lowered the curtain.

Without lighting a candle, he took two steps toward the remembered location of the bed, and his high-heated body fell into a wine-scented embrace.

The embrace came from behind, circling him very hard.

He heard a familiar voice, but not a familiar accent, "Is it Su Chang?"

Shi Tingyun's heart softened slightly, "Thirteenth Prince."

After a long time, he called again, "Yuanheng."

The high fever made his body ache, and he had no way to use all his strength, therefore, after realizing that Yan Yuanheng was drunk, he was already picked up and placed on the couch.

Yan Yuanheng did not act rashly, and after putting him on the bed, he sat on the edge of the bed in a disciplined manner, looking straight at him, his gaze glowing with heat.

Shi Tingyun: "Yuanheng, you're drunk."

Yan Yuanheng pulled out the already empty wine jug from his bosom and shoved it into Shi Tingyun's hand, "No. I've drunk so much and I'm not even drunk."

Shi Tingyun powerlessly turned on his side and smiled at him, "Uh-huh. Thirteenth Prince Haiwei."

Yan Yuanheng behaved himself, looking a bit frustrated, "No, I only drank half a pot."

Shi Tingyun's throat was sore, but he couldn't help laughing.

Yan Yuanheng said seriously, "Don't you laugh. I have something for you."

Shi Tingyun flopped down on his arm, "What gifts are there, come and let Young General Shi have a look at them."

Yan Yuanheng pointed at the empty wine pot.

Curious, Shi Tingyun took the jug and shook it against his ear to find nothing but a little residual water rattling inside.

He cried and laughed, and couldn't help but think that the book Yan Yuanheng had given him the last time he had gotten drunk also contained a small flower of unknown destination.

Shi Tingyun asked Yan Yuanheng in a hoarse voice, "What is the gift?"

Yan Yuanheng sat down on his knees at his side and said, "I went and climbed to the top of Mount Baiyun and filled a pot of traveling clouds."

Shi Tingyun's heart thumped within him and he looked up at him.

Yan Yuanheng said, "Hsing Yun stopped and was caught by me. So can you listen to me."

Shi Tingyun barely managed to hold up half of his body and smiled softly, "Uh-huh. You speak, and it listens."

Yan Yuanheng looked at him, blinking once and blushing up a layer.

Blinking a little more, his eyes got a little red too.

Yan Yuanheng opened his mouth and said, "I have, before, had a dream."

Shi Tingyun: "Uh-huh."

Yan Yuanheng : "In my dream, I reached the age of my ears."

Shi Tingyun couldn't help but smile, "Well, the Thirteenth Prince lives a high life."

Yan Yuanheng, with stars in his eyes, said word for word, "In the dream, at that time, by my side, there was you."

Shi Tingyun also stopped talking and looked straight into his eyes.

A drunken man, a man with a high fever, both with mist in their eyes.

Each has its own beauty when viewed through the fog.

Only after a long time did Shi Tingyun speak again, "The Thirteenth Prince is really greedy, dominating Shi Tingyun for ten years is not enough, how much longer do you want me to be your companion?"

Yan Yuanheng grabbed the corner of his coat and gently shook it, "Time Companion Reader, Time Companion Reader. Yan Yuanheng has a matter he does not understand, may I seek guidance."

Shi Tingyun looked at the rarely childish Yan Yuanheng, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, but there were hidden tears in his eyes, "Please speak."

Yan Yuanheng With a bit of a crying voice, he asked, "...... How do I have to love you so that you will like it."

Neither of the two knew who had kissed whom first.

The sash unraveled in layers, dropping to the floor with a rustling sound.

Shi Tingyun opened his mouth and bit into the right sleeve of Yan Yuanheng's lingerie, pulling it down along the contours of his shoulder, and placing a kiss on the exposed scar on the back of his hand where it was scabbed over, moving so gently that it seemed as if he was afraid of hurting him.

Shi Tingyun said softly, "Yuanheng, Yuanheng, do you know that for a period of time after one's death, one can really hear what other people are saying and doing?"

Yan Yuanheng propped his hands on the side of Shi Tingyun's ears and gazed at him, somewhat overwhelmed and confused, only following his instincts, kissing the knot of his bulging throat one by one.

"So I know." Shi Tingyun clasped his ten fingers and said, "...... Yan XIII likes Shi Su Chang, and Shi Su Chang knows that."