Chapter 47

Bu Nian’s body had fully recovered from the poison, and he returned to court to resume his duties.

During Gan Yan’s regency, the young emperor was barely allowed to speak, and it became commonplace for memorials to bypass the throne entirely. However, Prime Minister Lu hoped the emperor would begin to take part in court discussions and learn to express his own views.

On this day, the court was in heated debate over the matter of wiping out the remnants of the rebel faction. When Bu Nian had been unwell, the task had temporarily fallen to the Minister of War. But after all this time, they had only caught a handful of minor figures, and one rebel faction had even managed to regroup and raise a banner of their own, officially turning against the court.

The officials argued back and forth, unable to agree on a course of action. Prime Minister Lu had no choice but to turn to the emperor for his opinion.

Seated atop the tall dragon throne, the young emperor, though still slender and delicate, had begun to show the bearing of a ruler.

“In Our opinion, entrusting this matter to the Grand General would be the most appropriate,” he declared. He admired Bu Nian deeply and believed that anything handed to him would surely be done right.

Prime Minister Lu frowned almost imperceptibly. Bu Nian, as the Grand General of such high rank and authority, was a supreme commander. He wasn’t typically sent to handle small-time rebels. It was like using a butcher’s blade to kill a chicken, a waste of talent.

He was just about to persuade the emperor to reconsider when, from the ranks of the martial officials, someone stepped forward.

“This subject accepts the imperial decree.”

Prime Minister Lu turned his head. It was none other than Bu Nian himself.

Since the man in question had no objection, the matter was decided then and there. On top of his existing titles, the emperor conferred upon Bu Nian the additional post of “Commander of Bandit Suppression,” with Bai Shu and Song Qiao named as his deputies to lead the campaign against the remaining rebel forces.

Bu Nian had likely been idle for too long during his recovery, and with his hands itching for action, he set off not long after receiving the imperial edict. Without pause, he began his campaign from the capital, sweeping southward.

With the seamless coordination between him and the Bu family army, coupled with his sharp strategies and command, his efficiency far surpassed that of the Minister of War. Wherever they passed, the rebel factions quaked in fear.

Lian Ai had heard about Bu Nian’s campaign against the rebels. Knowing he was heading south and approaching Zhongzhou, he began keeping a close eye on any news about him. He wanted to see him, but couldn’t think of a good excuse to go.

It had been two months since they parted in the capital. He didn’t even know if the man’s anger had cooled.

Helian Qiufeng had been observing everything. Sharp as ever, he was not about to let this chance slip by. While Lian Ai was still troubled over what excuse to use, Helian Qiufeng had already made the arrangements. With Bu Nian approaching Zhongzhou, he prepared supplies and medicine, and had a namecard made for Lian Ai under the Helian family name to deliver to the army as a tribute.

“I’m going to the front lines?” Lian Ai hesitated and turned the namecard over in his hand.

“That man’s the most trusted General under the Emperor. His rank sits above even Prime Minister Lu. Wherever he goes, people trip over themselves to curry favor. You think our household would be an exception?” Helian Qiufeng coached him. “You hand him the card. If he agrees to see you, he’s cooled down. If he refuses, then he hasn’t. What’s so complicated about that?”

Lian Ai thought his reasoning made perfect sense. And so, with the supplies and the namecard in hand, he set out.

The rebels often moved through remote forests and wild terrain, so Bu Nian and his men rarely entered the cities. Instead, they set up camp in open areas outside. Starting from the capital and heading south, they had now stopped just outside Zhangde Prefecture, on the border between Jingzhou and Zhongzhou.

Just as Helian Qiufeng had predicted, by the time Lian Ai arrived, every notable figure in Zhongzhou who had even a shred of sense had already sent in their namecards.

Over a dozen carriages lined up not far from the camp, and the namecards were handed over to the guards by their attendants. It didn’t matter who arrived first or last, everyone had to wait the same. No one held any advantage.

As the sun began to dip westward, there was still no sign of Bu Nian. When Lian Ai sent a servant to inquire, the only reply was that the General was too busy to spare a moment.

Some had already started to give up hope. A few families were preparing to turn their horses around and leave, when a messenger strode out from the camp and shouted before the row of carriages, “Which one of you is Helian Ai? My general wants to see you!”

The moment the words left his mouth, Lian Ai flung open the curtain and jumped down. “That’s me!”

A stir broke out behind him. People murmured in surprise, wondering why Bu Nian was ignoring everyone else but had chosen to receive someone from the Helian family.

“Did they send something the General liked?”

“You must not know. The Helian family once protected the Emperor. It’s no surprise he’d agree to meet them.”

“That’s right. I heard they were granted a plaque and iron certificate by the Emperor himself.”

Lian Ai paid no mind to the whispers. His heart was too full of joy.

Bu Nian was willing to see him. Did that mean he had forgiven him?

He followed the soldier all the way to Bu Nian’s tent. The soldier stopped at the entrance and called, “General, he’s here.”

Before long, Bu Nian’s familiar voice came from within. “Let him in.”

The soldier lifted the flap. Lian Ai gave a word of thanks, bowed slightly, and slipped inside.

Bu Nian never lingered in one place for long. His tent was bare and simple, almost crude. There was no furniture inside, just a bedding roll laid out on the floor and a small table with a tea set on it.

The moment Lian Ai stepped inside, he saw him sitting cross-legged on a straw mat, quietly drinking tea at the low table. A few books lay nearby, likely the ones he used to pass the time.

Bu Nian didn’t invite him to sit, so Lian Ai didn’t dare take a seat on his own. He stepped closer and stood quietly by his side.

He hadn’t felt it before, but now that they were face to face again, the longing hit him hard. He had missed him.

Since Bu Nian was treating him like air, saying nothing and refusing to even look his way, Lian Ai gave up on holding back. His eyes followed the sharp lines of Bu Nian’s profile, from the deep eyes to the straight nose and the firm lips. It was as if he was trying to make up for the two months they hadn’t seen each other. His gaze was nothing short of blatant.

Even Bu Nian, with all his restraint, found it hard to ignore.

He turned his head, cup still in hand, and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lian Ai heard him speak and felt like victory was within reach. If he was talking, he couldn’t be that angry anymore.

“I missed you.” Lian Ai answered with the most obedient, pitiful expression he could manage.

Bu Nian stared at him. No one could tell what he was thinking, but his eyes seemed to surge with fierce emotion.

“Come here,” he said hoarsely.

Lian Ai bent his knees, lowered himself to the ground, and crept forward on all fours like a tame cat.

Bu Nian watched him crawl across the floor and settle into a kneel before him. That quiet submission made it almost impossible to stay angry.

But still…

Bu Nian had thought he was no longer angry. But the moment he saw Lian Ai, the fury surged back up.

“So now you’re being obedient. Who are you trying to impress?” Bu Nian gripped his chin and forced him to look up. “Weren’t you the one who always had your own ideas? Always acting without asking?”

In front of Bu Nian’s tall frame, Lian Ai looked thin and fragile. He never bothered to cover the scar on his forehead with a headband, which only made him appear more pitiful.

“I was wrong. I really was. You’ve hit me, scolded me, punished me. Isn’t that enough? Can’t you forgive me yet?” Lian Ai tilted his head up, his eyes brimming with tears.

He admitted his mistake so quickly and so easily that Bu Nian almost felt like the one being unreasonable.

“Sometimes I really want to kill you.” Bu Nian’s fingers dug in harder as he ground the words through clenched teeth. “If you were dead, no one would ever have the power to mess with my heart again.”

There was a time when Lian Ai might have been afraid of words like that. Now, he wasn’t. He even thought it sounded like Bu Nian’s version of love.

“If I die, no one will ever stir your heart again. Your heart will turn still and cold. That would be far too lonely.” Lian Ai took hold of his wrist. Feeling the strength loosen, he pressed that warm hand against his cheek and nuzzled into it like he couldn’t bear to let go.

Bu Nian stared at his soft, moist lips. His thumb moved roughly across them, rubbing until the color turned a deep red before he finally stopped.

“I hate it most when people think they know what’s best for me. If you ever do that again, don’t expect to see me.”

Lian Ai’s lips parted slightly, and just beyond them was the soft pink tip of his tongue. Bu Nian’s gaze darkened. He brought a hand behind Lian Ai’s head, leaned in, and kissed him. His lips claimed that tempting tongue in full.