Chapter 859: Feeling played (1/2)
Baili Yuanlong looked at the master he’d served for years and felt stifled in his heart. He had a stomach full of words to persuade him, but he didn’t know where to start or how to convince him. Long Feiye had already said that he wouldn’t yield a step on account of Han Yunxi at the battlefield. While speaking so openly of love, he could be ruthless enough to cross swords with her in open hostilities. Who could complain after that? Who could still remain unsatisfied?
Baili Yuanlong understood his master’s temper all too well. Since he said it was so, he’d never change his words! Perhaps someone else would try to coax Long Feiye further, saying how he needed to consider the bloodline of the East Qin Dynasty, or how he not only had to restore the nation, but produce descendants for the royal line. How could he selfishly choose Han Yunxi for such a task? Even if he did, he couldn’t let her birth the heirs to the East Qin Dynasty. Moreover, as the West Qin princess, Han Yunxi couldn’t let herself bear children for East Qin!
Sons were the continuation of the royal line, an extremely important task. But Baili Yuanlong didn’t mention a word. No matter how stupid he was, he understood His Highness’s meaning just then very well. Regardless of who won between East and West Qin, he still wanted Han Yunxi unless he died.
In other words, he could meet Han Yunxi on the battlefield for East Qin’s sake, but after the war was over, they couldn’t force him to avoid Han Yunxi. Otherwise, he’d rather choose death.
This was the ultimate death!
Baili Yuanlong stood stunned for a while before he finally asked, “Your Highness, just what’s so good about Han Yunxi?”
“Everything,” Long Feiye replied simply.
“Your Highness, you’re so deeply in love, but what about Han Yunxi herself?” Baili Yuanlong asked next.
Long Feiye smiled. “If we meet on the battlefield, don’t you think she’ll go soft on this crown prince, either.”
Baili Yuanlong looked at his master’s smile and felt his own iron heart began to melt and ache. At this moment, he didn’t just see his master’s stern and icy nobility, but the helpless, wan, and sallow crease between his brows, too. Long Feiye’s shoulders had long carried the heavy burden of East Qin’s revival since he was but a weak, small child. For nearly two decades, he’d bore the weight of his duty without relaxing for a second. Even the strongest heart would grow weary and exhausted!
And yet, those twenty years were nothing compared to the pallid face he showed now. It came from the helpless knowledge that he couldn’t abandon his duty, from the fact that he worried over one woman. Despite this, his eyes were steady and firm. It was a determination that came from one fully willing to shoulder the burden!
What else could Baili Yuanlong say? What else could he do? How could he really be willing to retire and leave the battlefield? Even less would he tell the masses of His Highness and Han Yunxi’s love. Who would he tell? If the soldiers knew, he’d have more trouble than His Highness dealing with them. As the general, he was supposed to clean up the mess for His Highness!
Not only did he have to keep his lips sealed, but also help them maintain their secret. Suppose His Highness decided to tell the troops the truth on impulse? He’d have to exhort him to keep things under wraps! At the same time Baili Yuanlong ached for his master, he realized he’d been thoroughly played.
He remained silent while wallowing in dejection! After a while, he finally deigned to speak again. “Your Highness, no matter what, there’s one thing this soldier needs to remind you of!”
Long Feiye looked over and Baili Yuanlong grew serious. “How about sending someone to give medicine to the West Qin princess?”
Delivering drugs to her after such favoritism would ensure she didn’t bear a son. Long Feiye only pretended not to hear a word. Once again, Baili Yuanlong coaxed, “Your Highness, although this soldier can pretend to be deaf and dumb, if she really gets pregnant now, the consequences would be unthinkable!”
Long Feiye still didn’t speak. When Baili Yuanlong sought to coax him again, he looked up with icy eyes. “Why don’t you try and see!”
“Your Highness!” as a man, Baili Yuanlong was on the verge of tears. But when he saw Long Feiye’s hands form into fists, he shut up. He comforted himself with the fact that His Highness still had the drive to revive East Qin and meet Han Yunxi on the battlefield. That was enough. He could only count things one step at a time and take care of issues that came his way.
A complicated looked passed through Long Feiye’s eyes before he called for a shadow guard and gave him instructions in low tones. The guard then went to Han Yunxi’s tent By suppressing Baili Yuanlong, Han Yunxi regained more freedom while things grew more open, natural, and normal between them. For now, this was all he could do for her sake, since he couldn’t truly lose the soldiers’ support or their hearts.
Both master and subordinate remained silent in the expansive barracks. It wasn’t until night fell and the bonfires lit that a soldier came to remind them that the banquet was about to begin. Baili Yuanlong rose from his thoughts and said, “This soldier has no right to interfere with Your Highness’s private affairs, but I hope that Your Highness will consider the big picture. By no means should a personal matter lose the heart of the soldiers.”
“I know,” Long Feiye replied simply.