Chapter 282: Chapter 276 Yunzhou
Fengyu was emotionally slow, while Xie Xun was passionate and straightforward. There had never been any external interference between them. Until this moment when she suddenly realized, "You’re jealous?"
"What kind of fiancé spends day after day chatting joyfully with another man in the same room until the dead of night?" Xie Xun replied sarcastically, "Am I not allowed to be jealous?"
"He’s the Second Young Master!" Fengyu argued.
"The Second Young Master isn’t another man?"
"He’s your Second Brother!"
"Second Brother isn’t another man?"
"You’re being unreasonable." Fengyu lowered her head, angrily chewing on her beef jerky. How could he even be jealous of the Second Young Master? "We were talking about official business."
Xie Xun laughed in irritation, stretching his legs lazily as he sat down. He casually grabbed the oil lamp, lit it, and hung it nearby. The sky gradually darkened, and the soft, dim light inside the carriage shrouded Xie Xun’s expression in mystery. What bothered him wasn’t Fengyu and Second Brother’s isolated late-night discussions.
That day, he had stood outside the door, listening to them talk about price stabilization and tax policies. He had felt like an outsider, unable to blend into their atmosphere. It left him feeling frustrated and helpless. He felt as though he understood Fengyu less than Second Brother did, even though he was the one who loved Fengyu most and wanted to protect her.
Fengyu gently poked his arm with her finger, suggesting a solution, "Next time I discuss official matters with Second Young Master, you can sit in on it?"
"Thanks, but no."
Purely inviting trouble for himself.
"Why not?"
"I wouldn’t understand."
"When I discussed price stabilization with Steward Qian, Second Young Master didn’t understand either. But after listening for just one day, he became broadly familiar with the basics and grasped the concepts. He’s really smart. You..."
Xie Xun responded coldly, "Mm, Second Young Master really is smart."
Fengyu’s original intention was to say that if he truly wanted to understand, he could emulate Second Young Master’s humility and eagerness to learn. If not, then it was fine too — it wasn’t necessary to comprehend everything.
But she lost track of the second half of her statement after Xie Xun’s sarcastic interruption.
"Zhixu, want some jerky?" Fengyu pulled out a piece of beef jerky. "Chunlu and Qiuxiang dried it; it’s really delicious."
Xie Xun, who had eaten his share of rations, politely declined. This sort of dry and tough beef jerky was typically the staple food of soldiers. He had eaten so much of it on the battlefield that he grew repulsed by it.
Fengyu found herself at a loss, feeling somewhat dejected. In the past, Xie Xun’s fiery and candid emotions—whether hatred or disdain—were all crystal clear to her. But now, she could no longer discern his feelings.
Overnight, Xie Xun had become unfamiliar, almost obsessive. Months ago, if he were jealous, he’d have pestered her endlessly for reassurance, teasing her with light flirtation as well.
Now, with her, even his words had dwindled.
Their relationship had undergone a subtle change, and Fengyu didn’t know how to navigate it. If she placed too much weight on their bond, she risked hurting his heart. If she treated it lightly, she’d be avoiding the truth and deceiving herself.
Months ago, when she told Xie Xun that she didn’t like him, he would laugh it off indifferently, simply saying, "You’ll like me eventually," or, "Then I’ll just try harder to make you like me."
Now, if she dared to say, "I don’t like you. I want to leave you,"
Xie Xun might lose his mind.
His emotional demands of her had turned greedy, domineering, and obsessive. He was no longer the easygoing, cheerful Xie Xun of months before. At that time, he had been the giver.
Now, he was the taker.
Fengyu was keenly aware that she was an emotionally barren person. Xie Xun once had a heart like a peaceful paradise, filled with blooming flowers. No matter how much she demanded from him, his feelings never depleted.
Courage, love, and joy—he could give it all endlessly.
But she was an emotional wasteland. Xie Xun’s paradise had been trampled, its flowers withered. Could a wounded Xie Xun genuinely find healing by staying at her side?
Lately, all she had brought Xie Xun was coldness and pain.
She felt like a lamentable flower meant to offer solace, failing to soothe his heartache and instead making it worse.
"Are you disappointed in me?" Fengyu asked.
Since he had shut himself off, she knew she had to muster courage. She wanted to be more like the Xie Xun of the past, offering him an endless stream of happiness and bravery.
"No!"
"Really?" Fengyu chuckled lightly and said, "The first time you went to the State Mansion, you saw me discussing official matters with Second Young Master. Why did you leave silently without saying anything?"
Xie Xun didn’t want to talk about that incident. Speaking about it only made him agitated and frustrated. But since the topic had started, Xie Xun responded, "You and Second Brother were talking about things I couldn’t contribute to."
"But if you were sitting there, I’d still be so happy!" Fengyu said. "Actually, that day I was exhausted. Second Young Master was so unreasonable. He treated me like a workhorse, never considering that I’m a frail and sickly woman. I was both tired and sleepy. At the time, I just kept thinking how nice it would’ve been if you were there. Just seeing you would’ve made me happy and energized. You definitely wouldn’t let Second Young Master bully me like that."
Xie Xun laughed helplessly, "If you were so tired, why didn’t you go rest?"
"You were giving me the cold shoulder, ignoring me. Staying alone in the mansion felt lonely and unfair, so I didn’t want to return early."
Xie Xun felt like Third Miss was trying to win him over.
He was no child; it was obvious she was genuinely excited when discussing tax policies and price stabilization with Second Brother. That spark in her eyes had been unmistakable.
Yet, even knowing this, Xie Xun couldn’t help but fall for Fengyu’s sweet words, which veiled complaints as playful coquettishness. His resentment dissipated entirely.
"Next time he bullies you, tell me. I’ll back you up!"
Fengyu coldly mused that perhaps he’d flee faster than she could.
"Alright!"
After successfully mollifying Xie Xun, Fengyu felt drained. She fell asleep with her head resting on his lap. Xie Xun pulled a thin blanket over her, half cradling her while reading a strategic report.
Xie Xun reviewed details on Yunzhou’s logistical defenses, reserves, governors of the various states and cities, and the bandit strongholds across the twelve provinces. When Ningzhou Iron Cavalry had triumphed months ago, they had swept through the provinces, quelling bandits. Those bandits had quickly reorganized, with many new groups establishing mountain strongholds.
However, most bandits lacked major influence. The largest group of bandits had been eradicated months ago by Feng Changqing, Fang Chuning, and Xie Jue. That bandit incursion had once terrified local government offices, making them retreat from conflict, let alone defending merchant caravans.
Xie Xun’s plan was to pacify the twelve provinces. Fengyu would spearhead Jinzhou’s development, reviving the production across all twelve provinces while maintaining trade and mutual markets with Jiangnan. Meanwhile, he would lead military efforts to repair Liangma Road, eradicate bandits, and—so long as Beiman remained peaceful—deploy troops to clear land and cultivate crops. Once the twelve provinces had recovered livelihoods, he wouldn’t lack loyal followers. If the populace could settle into ordered, prosperous lives, war would cease to be a concern.
Although he and Xie Jue harbored deep hatred for the Yuwen Royal Family, they didn’t wish to see Yanyang fractured. He desired to claim the twelve provinces without military engagement.
But if confronted with opposition, he wasn’t afraid to resort to force.
Five thousand Iron Cavalry soldiers marched overnight, arriving at Yunzhou City’s gates at dawn. Scouts from the vanguard had returned with reports. Yunzhou’s governor, Lin Jingshan, was waiting at the city gates with his staff and advisors to welcome them.
Xie Xun was mildly surprised. Lin Jingshan and the Lin Family were closely tied with the Yuwen Family. Knowing this was Xie Xun’s first military arrival as a self-proclaimed monarch, he hadn’t expected no resistance.
As dawn approached, the glint of polished armor mirrored rolling black clouds pouring out from the thick forest. Lin Jingshan’s gaze fell on Xie Xun, dressed in lightweight armor near the vanguard, and it stung his eyes.
"Lin Jingshan greets Prince Qin and welcomes the Prince’s army into Yunzhou City."
Mounted on a white horse with silver saddle, Xie Xun exuded cold and commanding authority. His silent presence intimidated the officials standing in the early morning breeze, breaking them into cold sweats. As Xie Xun surveyed the semi-dilapidated city of Yunzhou, the Yanyang flag waving atop its walls was unbearable to behold. Lin Jingshan followed Xie Xun’s gaze but displayed no regret or remorse.
Dismounting his horse, Xie Xun exchanged formal greetings with the city’s officials. "I am passing through Yunzhou; forgive me for troubling you all."
"You’re too kind, Prince. Yunzhou has prepared provisions and awaits your arrival."
Xie Xun arched his brow slightly. The officials of Yunzhou acted strikingly different from his expectations.
Later, as he entered the city, he finally understood why.