Chapter 32

Not knowing how long this deadlock lasted, Yan Sikong's posture of having his back against the wall seemed effortless, but in fact, he became sore and numb quickly because his whole body was tense and motionless. What’s more, he was suffering unspeakably from the psychological torture.

He really couldn't tolerate it anymore and shook his legs quietly.

That wolf just moved its eye.

Yan Sikong held the dagger across his chest, slowly slid down the wall, and sat on the ground with some courage.

That wolf was still unresponsive. It maintained the same sitting posture from beginning to end. It looked serious, and its manner was incomparably noble.

Until now, Yan Sikong could only guess boldly that this wolf didn't intend to eat him, but was...looking at him?

This was the most absurd thing in the world.

Just then, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door. Yan Sikong’s heart tensed, and he stared fixedly at that wide-opened door.

Yan Sikong was stunned when he saw the person coming in.

Although he already had a hunch, he still couldn't restrain that unspeakable tremor when he saw Feng Ye at that moment. When Feng Ye looked at him with a look he couldn't understand, the past events came one after another in front of him. Suddenly, it seemed as if time was turning back quickly. They all returned to the time when they were youths; the time that they couldn't go back to forever.

Yan Sikong's Adam's apple slipped slightly. When he opened his mouth, he was already calm: "What does Shizi mean by this? Do you know that it is a great crime to abduct an imperial court official?"

Feng Ye smiled coldly: "It's a great crime to dissect and humiliate a horse corpse, and it's a great crime to attack the king’s son. Have you been executed?"

Yan Sikong's lips trembled slightly. In his blank brain, there was only one thought ---- he remembered me.

At that moment, thousands of grievances poured into his heart, and a sad feeling suddenly emerged.

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong deeply, and his chest heaved with force.

Yan Sikong lowered his eyes, covered up his inexplicable emotion, and whispered, "Your Highness...Can you have this wolf retreat first?"

Yan Sikong held the dagger tightly. Regardless of his image, he looked like he was dying to be embedded in the wall, and he seemed kind of funny and pitiful. Feng Ye held back his laughter and banter flashed in his eyes. He reached out his hand and touched the wolf's head: "What ‘this wolf'? His name is Feng Hun, and he’s my younger brother."

Yan Sikong took a deep breath: "Can you have...His Highness Feng Hun...retreat temporarily?"

"We drank the milk of a she-wolf before." Feng Ye hugged Feng Hun’s neck, "Isn't he very mighty?"

"...He’s mighty."

Feng Hun stretched out his thick meat claws, pulled Feng Ye's hand off his neck, and then continued to sit upright.

"I asked him to watch over you. What, are you this scared?" Feng Ye sneered, "Weren’t you bold last time?"

"What comment does Your Highness have?" Yan Sikong also felt ashamed of his manner of holing up in the corner of the wall and he stood up while supporting himself on the wall.

Feng Ye snorted heavily: "I haven't asked you yet, and you dare to question me instead?"

"What does Your Highness want to ask me?" What happened on this day was so shocking that he had lost his temper.

Feng Ye paused and said, "I'll ask you three questions. If you answer them well, I'll have him leave."

"I will answer truthfully."

Yan Sikong's continuous bureaucratic tone sounded very harsh. Feng Ye frowned: "Did you give Uncle Xue the advice to help me tame the fierce horse during the day of the spring hunt?"

"Yes."

"If I didn't come and find you, when were you going to come and find me?"

“……”

Feng Ye’s tone was unfriendly: "Speak."

"I heard that Shizi refused all visitors and guessed that Your Highness doesn't like to be disturbed, so I didn't dare to be rude."

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes: "Feng Hun, get closer."

"Don't..." Yan Sikong retreated to the corner in horror.

However, Feng Hun stood up, walked slowly to Yan Sikong, and stopped a few steps in front of him.

Yan Sikong looked at that huge wolf's head, white eyes, and silver-gray hair that could be seen clearly root by root. His breathing became very cautious. The closer he got, the more he could feel how huge and majestic Feng Hun was. Was he really a wolf?

Feng Ye crossed his arms and looked at Yan Sikong: "Last question. If I don't like the answer, you shall stay in the room with him today."

Yan Sikong took a breath and scolded Feng Ye angrily in his heart: "Your Highness... Please ask."

A sharp light flashed in Feng Ye's eyes: "Why didn't you come and find me when you didn’t die back then?!"

Yan Sikong stiffened and looked at Feng Ye's eyes quietly from a short distance.

Their gaze collided in the air, and no one could tell what the mood was at that moment.

"Answer me. After the misfortune in your family, my father specially sent someone to Guangning to pick you up. When he learned that you were sent to the northwest, he ordered someone to find you again, but he said that you had died in the quarry..."

"What's the use of finding you?!" Yan Sikong suddenly roared.

Feng Ye was stunned.

Yan Sikong stared at Feng Ye with red eyes.

He already had nothing left. His father was wrongly killed on the guillotine, and his younger brother was exiled and died in a foreign land on his behalf. When he took the money he had earned for his life to find Yuan Nanyu, he got the cold news of his death. At that moment, he knew that all that supported him to live was hatred, only hatred.

He didn't expect that after so many years, someone would uncover his scars naked in front of his face.

It already hurt so much.

Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong grimly.

Yan Sikong took a deep breath and said tremblingly, "Datong...is too far away."

When he was extremely desperate and helpless, he also did think of going to Datong and to find Feng Ye, but he lost his courage when he watched the breakage of Yuan Weiling's marriage and the people who had associated with the Yuan family retreat from them. Datong is too far away, and his will is too far away. The road he has to take is full of thorns and blood. He is doomed to walk alone in his life.

Feng Ye was silent for a moment and patted Feng Hun's back. He turned and left.

Yan Sikong heaved a sigh of relief.

Feng Ye murmured, "If you came and found me, at least I wouldn't let you suffer."

Yan Sikong felt slightly warm in his heart and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness."

They fell into an awkward silence.

After all, they haven't seen each other for ten years. The blue sea had already turned into mulberry fields* and things have changed with the passage of time. Now, they were officials of the same imperial court. The disparity of their identities couldn’t be avoided, and they could no longer be as close as they were when they were children.

Feng Ye said, "Come here."

Yan Sikong hesitated and said, "I still have..."

Feng Ye said domineeringly, "I asked you to follow me. What, were you so scared by Feng Hun that your legs became weak?"

Yan Sikong had no choice but to follow him.

Feng Ye led him all the way through the winding long hallway that was carved with decorative design. It had bluish-green roof tiles, crimson rafters, and a deep courtyard. This newly purchased Feng Family's residence is really stylish.

From a distance, Yan Sikong smelled a familiar smell --- the smell of horse dung.

Feng Ye brought him to the stable.

A glimmer of expectation rose in Yan Sikong’s heart. Will he see that rare horse soon?

Sure enough, the two approached the stable, and the fiery red Tianshan horse king was eating the grass leisurely. It occupied four mangers, and all the other horses stayed away from it.

Yan Sikong walked forward, but he didn't get close as he was afraid of being kicked. He just exclaimed, "What a great horse."

Feng Ye grabbed a carrot and stuffed it into the horse king’s mouth. He stroked its mane while looking at Yan Sikong, who cautiously stood 3.33 meters away, and laughed: "Come here. It doesn't bite."

Yan Sikong walked over, carefully stretched out his hand, and touched the horse's face. That horse just glanced at him and chewed the carrot as usual. Now, he had the courage to touch the horse king's back all the way to the abdomen and thighs. He felt the power transmitted by the stone-hard muscles through his palm.

It's a gift bestowed by heaven to have such a perfect horse in this world.

Yan Sikong asked, "What's its name?"

"I asked you to come because of this." Feng Ye said, "I have yet to think about a well-deserving name for it. You shall name it.”

Yan Sikong thought for a while and said, "Passing the cups just like a heroic youth. Drunk but not old*. Why not we name it ‘Zui Hong*’?"

One only wished he wouldn’t grow old and could drink as much as he could*.

"’Zui Hong’." Feng Ye's eyes lit up, "Drinking freely just like returning to the youthful days. This name is good."

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye's handsome and beautiful face, smiled, and said sincerely: "Only Your Highness has the heroic spirit of lying drunk on the battlefield*, and only Your Highness's war horse deserves this ageless name."

Feng Ye's bright eyes sparkle like a bright star. He smiled proudly: "You’re still so good at talking. I'll take you and ride Zui Hong on another day. After all, you contributed in helping me to get this divine horse."

"Thank you, Your Highness, but I have many official duties and I'm afraid..."

Feng Ye suddenly lowered his head and got closer to him. Yan Sikong was startled and dodged backwards. Feng Ye's face was so close that he could even feel the warm breath coming from his nose. He only heard Feng Ye's bantering voice: "How did you become so short?"

Yan Sikong was helpless: "Your Highness is the one who has grown tall."

"You can't beat me either."

"I’ve humored Your Highness."

"Where's the dagger I gave you?"

Yan Sikong said sadly, "I pawned it for the sake of surviving."

When he was driven out of the house by Yuan Shaoxu, he actually went back secretly once. He pawned the dagger Feng Ye gave him for 50 taels of silver and gave it to Yuan Weiling to leave Guangning with their family as soon as possible.

Feng Ye said in a deep voice, "You have already forgotten the promise between you and me, right?"

Yan Sikong's body trembled slightly. He lowered his head to cover up the palpitation in his eyes and whispered, "I have encountered misfortunes. There are many things that I…can’t remember clearly."

Feng Ye gave him a disappointed look: "Never mind. I don't blame you."

Yan Sikong couldn't help smiling a little. Suddenly, Feng Ye's awkward and lovely little round face appeared before him.

It's already good enough to see him again and know that he is well and hasn't been forgotten by him. After all, probably only a few people in the world remembered "Yuan Sikong".

"Are you hungry? Let’s eat together."

"I..."

"Whatever I ask you to do..." Feng Ye pointed at him with his finger, "you will do it. Don't talk nonsense."

Yan Sikong thought: Feng Ye probably hasn't changed much.

They arrived at the courtyard, where a large locust tree was flourishing with green leaves. The locust flowers were blossoming brilliantly all over the tree. The spring wind blew gently, and the pink petals drifted away with the wind. They spread all over the ground like silk and catkins. The light fragrance diffused in the air as if they were being surrounded by an immortal aura.

Under the tree, a table of wine and food had already been prepared. Uncle Xue stood by the table and smiled at them. Not far away, Feng Hun was leaning against the trunk and dozing.

This quiet scene made Yan Sikong's memory fresh after many years, even if the reality was changed beyond recognition.

The two men walked forward, and Uncle Xue bowed to Yan Sikong: "Lord Yan, I’ve offended you last night. I hope you will forgive me."

"That was you last night?" Yan Sikong was surprised that Uncle Xue hid his good kung fu despite looking so ordinary.

Uncle Xue said with a smile, "If you still feel unwell, you can drink a bowl of chicken soup first to moisten your heart and lungs."

"I'm fine." Yan Sikong glanced at Feng Ye, but when he saw that the culprit was not ashamed at all, he couldn’t do anything about it.

Feng Ye sat down. Yan Sikong refused to turn his back to Feng Hun, so he sat next to Feng Ye. Feng Ye saw through it and mocked: "Why are you so afraid of him? Feng Hun grew up with me since childhood. He is very intelligent."

"Since he’s an intelligent animal, I should be in awe." Yan Sikong thought to himself: He’s still a beast, what if he went crazy and bit people?

Feng Ye smiled and said, "Uncle Xue, pour the wine."

Yan Sikong watched Uncle Xue pick up the wine jar and fill the two bowls with wine. He was a little scared. Although he drinks well, drinking in broad daylight is simply like a debauchee, and it’s not an acceptable behavior.

Uncle Xue retreated after pouring the wine.

"How’s your drinking capacity?" Feng Ye picked up the wine bowl and held it up in front of Yan Sikong.

"Not bad."

"Oh, then you lose to me again." Feng Ye forced the wine bowl into his hand and ordered, "Finish it."

Yan Sikong smiled helplessly, covered his face with his sleeve, lifted his head up, and chugged the bowl of wine into his stomach. After that, he wiped his mouth: "Mm, this is the best Hantanxiang*."

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong's clean wine bowl in his hand and his expression changed slightly.

"Your Highness, please."

Feng Ye twitched his mouth, raised his bowl, and drank boldly. His Adam's apple rolling up and down warmly was full of vitality just like him.

After finishing his bowl of wine, Feng Ye laughed heroically: "Good wine!" He lifted the wine jar in one hand, filled the two bowls, and then stared straight into Yan Sikong's eyes, "Tell me what you went through these ten years."

 

 ----

blue sea had already turned into mulberry fields* [沧海桑田]--- time brings great changes to the world

lying drunk on the battlefield* [醉卧沙场]---have the courage to face death/not afraid of dying. Extracted from: 唐代·王翰《凉州词》(Tang Dynasty - Wang Han "Liangzhou Lyrics”)

Hantanxiang* [寒潭香]---wine name

Zui Hong* [醉红]---literally ‘drunk red’. Feng Ye’s new horse name

Passing the cups just like a heroic youth. Drunk but not old* [传杯犹似少年豪，归鬓任霜，醉红未老] ---Apologize for the crude TL. I can’t find any explanation online, and my weibo friend still haven’t got back to me yet, so I just TL it literally. Extracted from: 宋·黄庭坚《阮郎归》词 & 宋·范成大《三登乐》词.

One only wished he wouldn’t grow old and could drink as much as he could* [惟愿少年不老，醉红饮豪]

 

Edited on 3 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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