4.12

Qiao Chen watched his mother until she fell asleep before he returned to his courtyard.

"Will you be returning to the Marquis of Guangde's Official Manor in the future?" Xiao Qinan had waited for Qiao Chen to finally leave his mother's courtyard to ask.

"My mother even has the divorce papers. What can I even do there if I do go back?" Even though Qiao Chen's original intent today was to sever ties with that entire family, he was still worried for his mother's wellbeing.

"Tired?" Xiao Qinan looked at Qiao Chen and asked.

"No." Qiao Chen replied. He didn't feel tired at all.

"You look tired." Xiao Qinan said earnestly.

Qiao Chen looked at Xiao Qinan incredulously. Wouldn't he know it himself if he felt tired or not?

"I had people bring water from the hot spring behind the mountain, so you can have a bath. If you soak in that water, then you won't feel as tired." Xiao Qinan expressed so seriously that there seemingly wasn't anything hidden between the lines.

"Then I'll have a bath…and what about you? What are you doing?" Qiao Chen squinted at him.

"I'll just watch."

"Oh? You're just going to watch? So you aren't planning on joining me, right?"

"Well since you've invited me so graciously, then I guess I'll have to join you."

"Who invited you?" Qiao Chen raised his hand up, pinched Xiao Qinan's face, and said, "Have you no sense of shame?"

Xiao Qinan didn't say another word. He picked up Qiao Chen and quickly headed to the bathing pool.

Qiao Chen silently criticized, "Stinkin' pervert. He's the one that wants to take a bath together, but still tries to beat around the bush. What 'You look tired'? I obviously still have plenty of energy."

Steam rose from the water in the bathing pool. Qiao Chen soaked in the water, while Xiao Qinan's lips pressed against his shoulder blades. Qiao Chen closed his eyes and relaxed.

Xiao Qinan continued over to Qiao Chen's neck, while his palms ran up and down Qiao Chen's body. He slowly made his way down and his hand slipped between Qiao Chen's legs.

Qiao Chen turned around and wrapped his arms around Xiao Qinan's neck. Then he wrapped his slender legs around Xiao Qinan's waist and opened his mouth a bit more, accepting Xiao Qinan as he explored his mouth.

…

Since Qiao Chen officially severed ties with the Marquis of Guangde, he didn't live in the Hanwu Temple as often. Now he stayed in the courtyard in the mountains. Furthermore, there were Xiao family soldiers who stood guard, so it was much more safe and comfortable.

Eventually, Qiao Chen chose not to reside in Hanwu Temple anymore. The main reason was that the Hanwu Temple was a place of purity, where people stayed to practice Buddhism. Xiao Qinan, on the other hand, was an insatiable animal. Every time Qiao Chen stayed at the temple, Xiao Qinan would follow. It wasn't good to do those kinds of things at that kind of place, so he refused many times. This, however, caused Xiao Qinan to become very unhappy.

There was ample acreage where the other courtyard was, and the neighboring courtyards were placed far away from each other. Furthermore, with Xiao Qinan's men keeping watch, they didn't have to worry about being bothered or intruded upon. Therefore, it very convenient to do as they pleased.

Qiao Chen lived this way for two days when an unexpected guest from the other courtyard arrived. Qiao Chen thought it over before he decided to go see that person.

"You know, this prince spent a lot of money to buy the other courtyard a few years ago, but it was the Xiao family who ultimately purchased this one. However, it doesn't seem like they did since you, surprisingly enough, are the one who is living here now." Prince Yong An sighed. This courtyard was something that the Xiao family and Prince Yong An fought over. It was a very obvious fact that the Xiao family won that fight, so it also represented another mark of victory for the Xiao family with Qiao Chen living here.

"Your Highness personally made the visit here. It's very unlikely that You just wanted to take a look at this courtyard." Qiao Chen sat down and said.

"Even though the other courtyard is good, this Prince strongly prefers this courtyard… I can give you everything the Xiao family offers and more." Prince Yong An looked at Qiao Chen and said.

"How can Your Highness give me what I want? Does Your Highness know what I want?" Qiao Chen asked.

"I can arrange it so that you and your mother can return to the Guangde Marquis' Manor. I can also make it so that everything in that manor will belong to you. This is something that only This Prince can do. The Xiao family cannot meet such demands."

"Returning to the Guangde Marquis' Manor?" Qiao Chen smiled and said, "This just so happens to be the very last thing that I want."

"Then what do you want? What possible thing could there be that the Xiao family can provide that This Prince cannot?"

"I want the man called Xiao Qinan. Can Your Highness give him to me?"

"You…." Prince Yong An looked at Qiao Chen, surprised. Then he calmly said, "So are you saying that you must help the Xiao family deal with This Prince?"

"Those who walk on different paths in life must go about their separate ways. From the beginning until the end, the path that I take is completely different than the one Your Highness takes."

"You'd better not regret your decision from now on. I won't go easy on you in the future." Prince Yong An stood up and left after he finished.

…

Zhang Guangyao took the newly built gun cannons to Cheng Jingrui for inspections.

Cheng Jingrui opened the two crates and looked inside. Unsatisfied, he asked, "What about the rest of them?"

"This is all of it." Zhang Guangyao replied.

"This is all of it?" Cheng Jingrui couldn't help but raise his voice, "I spent 100,000 and there are only two boxes?!"

"I already told you that the cost of production was very high. It's already really good that 100,000 liang can make two boxes for you."

Zhang Guangyao looked as if he was the one who had eaten the cost.

"Then tell me the method. I'll find someone to do it myself." Cheng Jingrui didn't believe that 100,000 liang could only produce two boxes of gun cannons.

"Okay." Zhang Guangeyao readily agreed. Then he continued, "Give me two million liang, and then I will tell you the details."

"Two million liang?! Why don't you just rob me already?" Cheng Jingrui was surprised by Zhang Guangyao's greed and exorbitant price.

"Do you know how much work I put into extracting the ammunition in the barrel?" Zhang Guangyao bluntly continued, "To tell you the truth, even if I tell you how to do it, you might not be able to do it. It's much more complicated than it seems. More so, I've risked my life to do this for you, but it looks like you think that I've taken advantage of you. Really- I've worked so hard, but you're still not satisfied."

"Just forget it." Zhang Guanyao waved his hand and said. "Don't look for me anymore. If you can make it yourself, then you go make it. Only then will you understand just how hard it is to make. You'll find out whether or not the two million is me highballing you or not soon."

"You…"

"Aye, don't even think about using Prince Yong An to threaten me again. If you try to force me to do something like this again, then I'll just defect and join the Xiao family instead. If worst comes to worst, then I'll just go ahead and do everything so I can survive: I'll tell them about everything you had me do." Zhang Guangyao looked like he was already past his breaking point. Cheng Jingrui couldn't do anything but watch as he strode out the door. He couldn't do anything to Zhang Guangyao before he knew the method to make the guns, and furthermore, Zhang Guangyao could possibly help him deal with Cheng Jingyun in the future.

—

Cheng Jingrui took the two crates of gun cannons to Prince Yong An's palace. The Prince was elated when Cheng Jingrui showed off the goods.

"Who made all of these?" Prince Yong An asked.

"I made them after I saw the Xiao family's guns." Cheng Jingrui gave 100% of the credit to himself. Besides, it was Zhang Guangyao who said that he didn't want anyone else to know that he made them.

"Very good. I knew you wouldn't be any worse than your older brother." Prince Yong An nodded with satisfaction. Then he asked, "How about the situation with the Turkic group?"

"Ever since Xiao Qinan caught that guy the last time, we've been having a hard time contacting their side. Fret not, we've already begun preparations."

Prince Yong An nodded again, then thought for a moment, before he said, "Produce two hundred boxes these guns, posthaste."

"Two hundred boxes?" Cheng Jingrui said, surprised.

"What? Is there a problem?" Prince Yong An asked.

"There aren't any problems. I'm just afraid there isn't enough time." Cheng Jingrui said and hid his guilty conscience.

"Then make at least one hundred boxes. They must be completed before the Turkic forces begin their operations. This time, This Prince will make sure to never let Xiao Qinan return." Prince Yong An said with a fierce gleam in his eyes. His current expression was completely devoid of the elegance and kindness he usually expressed in front of other people.

"Does this mean Your Highness will send the guns to the Turkic group?" Cheng Jingrui asked.

"The Xiaos are a veteran military family. They are very good at fighting. With those gun cannons they acquired, the Turkics would have a very difficult time, and it's unlikely that they'll win. However, if the Turkic group had guns too… They'll have a level playing field and are more likely to defeat that Xiao family." Prince Yong An ordered, "Complete the task quickly, and don't mess up."

Cheng Jingrui had no choice but to find Zhang Guangyao again. Zhang Guangyao didn't refuse either. As long as Cheng Jingrui supplied the money, he would supply the goods.

Cheng Jingrui used all the money he personally earned to Zhang Guangyao. He even had to mortgage several of his shops and restaurants to Zhang Guangyao to get enough money to pay for the hundred boxes.

Cheng Jingrui was able to do this because he believed that his money and shops were only temporarily held by Zhang Guangyao. Once Prince Yong An ascended the throne, it'd be easy to get all his money back. He just had to bide his time, then he would even find a way to take everything the Zhang family held in their hands now.

…

The people of Luodu city were enjoying their tranquil and peaceful days when the border guards suddenly sent and urgent report. "The Turkic group organized a large scale invasion. General Shi, who was guarding the wall, was defeated by the Turkic army forces. Then he was captured between two passes. The Turkic forces were still mounting attacks on those two passes too."

The Xiao family immediately prepared their troops to rush to the border once the report reached Luodu city. Xiao Qinan marched his Flying Tiger Battalion to the wall first. Xiao Qibei and the Xiao family's father would later lead the rest of their family's armed forces once the all of the troops assembled and all the provisions were gathered.

Qiao Chen sent Madame Shu to the Hanwu Temple and entrusted her to the abbot. Then he set out to the border alongside Xiao Qinan.

——

Once dusk approached, the troops set up camp and rested for the night. However, Xiao Qinan's heart was currently in pain. He carefully and meticulously applied medicine on Qiao Chen's inner thighs. Qiao Chen developed some really bad saddle sores while journeying with the battalion.

"I'll get you a carriage tomorrow." Xiao Qinan said.

"No. How can I delay your speed due to my own problems?" Qiao Chen refused and carefully put his pants back on.

"We don't have to arrive together or at the same time. I'll have someone escort you, so you can go at your own pace. You can even travel with my father and the rest of the army. They'll be traveling slower due to the army provisions they'll be carrying. I'll have Qibei watch over you."

"I can't fight alongside with you against the enemy forces, but I still have a reason to go to the wall with you." Qiao Chen explained his intentions to Xiao Qinan, "I want to see, with my own two eyes, how you drove the enemy Turkics away and recaptured and returned the city grounds. I want to paint it all. That way, all of the citizens of Luodu city- of the entire Wei Dynasty will know who their savior was. I want them to know that it was you who put your life on the line. It was you who gave them the peace they could enjoy."

Xiao Qinan was moved by Qiao Chen's plan. Prince Yong An spared no effort to discredit the Xiao family over the past few years. His smear campaign included rumors that they were rebels and traitors attempting to sow discord. However, Xiao Qinan currently felt that it didn't matter whether other people understood them or not. He would be satisfied as long as Qiao Chen understood them. Everything was fine as long as Qiao Chen understood him.

"I'm afraid that this sudden invasion from the Turkic forces is all due to Prince Yong An's handy work." Xiao Qinan had previously captured the spy helping Prince Yong An who hid under Qiao Chen's carriage when they first met. The spy wasn't able to resist their torture techniques and told them many things that inevitably frightened Xiao Qinan. He never would have thought that Prince Yong An would disregard the safety of the citizens near the wall and collude with the Turkic forces to ascend the throne.

"This time, we must gather all the evidence of Prince Yong An colluding with the Turkic forces." This was also one of the other reasons why Qiao Chen was also going to the wall.

Over the next few days, Qiao Chen still traveled at the same pace as Xiao Qinan and his Flying Tiger Battalion. He never once uttered a word of complaint on his fatigue or pains. Xiao Qinan couldn't help but admire him for this. After all, Qiao Chen was different from these rugged men who practiced martial arts and fought on horseback year round. Qiao Chen's constitution was originally poor. He was untrained and unused to the burdens of battle. This mean that his skin was weak and delicate. Their initial assumptions were that he wouldn't be able to endure the hardship. However, he surprised Xiao Qinan and persevered through it all.

In fact, Qiao Chen was really suffering through it all. His body was far too weak compared to those hardy soldiers, so everything he was able to endure was fueled by perseverance. Even though he felt like his bones were on the precipice of breaking, that his muscles were about to fall apart. He still persisted.