1.13

Qin Yu and Li Luo had already gained the military orders and seal, what's more Yunxi City's commander, the Governor, had also been killed in his room. Therefore, once Qin Yu revealed them together with the severed head of the Governor, the campaign that had just been starting was concluded. The Yunxi City's soldiers, who moments ago had wanted to fight back, right away abandoned their weapons one after another, choosing to surrender.

Since now they were a group of dragons without a leader, there was no meaning in fighting. Moreover deep in their heart they actually wanted to surrender and pay allegiance to Qin Yu. They had long ago heard how wise Qin Yu was, and how he and his soldiers ate similar meals. It was nothing like the particular rumors that spread around. Also in regards of the emperor, Qin Yan, they actually concealed a trace of resentment in their hearts.

After all, whose family doesn't have a few relatives, so Qin Yan's way of handling things made these soldiers' hearts turn cold. If they permitted that kind of man to continue to sit on the throne, who knew what would become of Qin country.

Thus, when they saw the governor's corpse, the military orders, and the military seal, almost in a split second, all of the soldiers surrendered.

...

Qin Yu brought Li Luo to their sleeping quarters for the time being. They were a courtyard with beautiful landscapes in the governor residence.

Originally when he saw how big this courtyard was, Li Lou wanted to stay in a side room. But at the sight of Qin Yu's expression, which had became gloomy when he saw where he (Li Lou) was heading, he reluctantly changed his mind and put his things inside a cupboard in the main room.

By the time the battle was over and the army was reorganized, the sky had already brightened.

Although Li Luo hadn't slept for a whole night, he didn't feel tired whatsoever. Qin Yu was very energetic as well, he didn't resemble a person who had been sleeping for only one or two hours for several days.

After sorting out their personal belongings, the two men and the army's military advisers were ready to go to the governor's warehouse to check the accounting. They were done with it the following day. After doing the checks, the wealth embezzled by the Governor from the people in recent years have been returned to them.

This move naturally won Qin Yu even more support from the people. There were many peasants, which had been forced to write down IOU by the Governor because of inability to pay the taxes, that directly kneeled on the ground and kowtow a few times in front of Qin Yu. There were also many people that had been previously oppressed by the governor, who set up tablets of Qin Yu, and every day lit up incense, while praying for him. They believe the Heavens had finally opened their eyes, letting them have a days to look forward to.

After finishing with distributing the governor's embezzled wealth, all of the remaining was used as military expenditure. This income, immediately turned Xiang Bei Army's originally strained financial position abundant. This showed just how luxurious of a life the Governor had lead throughout the last years.

At night, Li Luo and Qin Yu had had a feast with all of the soldiers. Li Luo touched his round belly as hiccupped and walked unsteadily. He was returning to the courtyard where he and Qin Yu were staying.

After resting tonight at the Governor's mansion, they would have to depart again.

Li Luo, supported his belly as he walked more than a dozen laps inside the courtyard, only then did he feel his previously almost bursting stomach feel a lot better.

At this moment, the night had taken over the entire sky, the stars started appearing one after the other, dotting the inky night sky.

When Qin Yu entered the courtyard, the scene he saw was of Li Luo, who looked like a pregnant woman in the six-seventh month, supporting his belly as he walked. This immediately brought a look of dumbfoundedness on his face.

Although he wanted to remind Li Luo not to be so unrestrained during the meal, he hadn't wanted to break his silence, especially since it hadn't been easy for him to give Li Luo the cold-shoulder for such an extended period. He couldn't fail at this juncture, and give up the goal he had almost achieved.

Tonight, was the night he intended on collecting the net.

Qin Yu quietly passed Li Luo and entered the room. When he saw Qin Yu, Li Luo immediately stopped his after-meal exercises. Scratching his head, he stood still for a while, before he bit the bullet and followed Qin Yu inside the room.

Today at the dining table, Liu Ruoyan was somehow seated at his side, while Qin Yu was on his other side. Once Liu Ruoyan had sat down, Li Luo could constantly feel chills on his body, not to mention at the times when Liu Ruoyan picked up a few dishes for him, they would become even colder, capable to even freeze people to death.

Fortunately, he responded in a timely manner. He immediately started kissing up to Qin Yu by picking for him a full bowl of dishes, which made the shivering cold chills, which were like winter moments ago change into spring, becoming gentle. Afterwards in order to not suffer again, he very enthusiastic continued to kiss up to Qin Yu by picking up dish for him. He himself also continuously ate; even though he had to divide his attention while he did it, he still ate till full. But what made him most happy was that at the last moment, Qin Yu seemed to have given him a faint smile—was this a sign of the end of the cold war?

Either way, Li Luo intended to poke Qin Yu tonight or perhaps coax him again, about what to be done to restore the way he treated him as before, right?

After the appearance of Liu Ruoyan, his confidence had been shakened up.

Closing the door of the room, Li Luo immediately faked a cough and said loudly: "From the start of war, it has been a long time since we had so much to eat as today. I even allowed myself to eat till I'm full and almost unable to move."

Qin Yu did not turn around to look at Li Luo, but on his face there was a big smile. He smoothed his emotions and turned his look back to being expressionless. He walked to the side table, took a cup of tea and drank a sip.

When he saw Qin Yu ignoring him, Li Luo couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He touched his nose before sitting besides Qin Yu and picking up a cup of tea from, which he drank a few mouthfuls. He looked at Qin Yu.

Qin Yu stood up and without speaking turned his head to look at Li Luo. Then he directly took off his outer clothes and laid down on the bed.

Li Luo eyes immediately brightened. Was this a show of approval? It has been so long since Qin Yu had pried open his mouth, he was already at his very utmost limit, right!

Li Luo once again following Qin Yu—he took off his outer clothes and went in bed. He persistently stuck out his finger, and poked at Qin Yu's back, "Yu, you haven't talked with me for such a long time. To get angry for so long, you should been calm down, right? I promise you, I'll never say that kind of thing again, okay? I really know my wrong."

Qin Yu's back was faced Li Luo. After Li Luo poked at his back more than a dozen times, he couldn't stand it anymore, so he turned around and his jet-black pupils focused on Li Luo, "Not only can you not say that, you also can't go to such places."

Li Luo immediately grinned from ear to ear, and raised his three slender fingers toward the sky. "I swear I will not say such words again, and I will never go to a brothel."

That had just accidentally leaked out from his mouth, how could he dare have such ideas otherwise. Anyway, he was just thinking about it at that time and as long as Qin Yu returned to the way he used to be, he would forget all about that.

"There are two more requirements, you also must promise me."

So far, in the request that Qin Yu had said, there was still nothing he opposed. If this brat once again became depressed, and got angered to the point of giving him a cold-shoulder for a few months and often releasing cold pressure at him, he was afraid that he would not be reaching the plot arrangements and instead die early.

Li Luo didn't wait for Qin Yu to say his requirements, he nodded right away and said: "As long as you aren't angry anymore, I can promise you anything."

"You are not allowed to get close to Liu Ruoyan, can you promise that?"

In Li Luo's mind immediately flashed an idea. Don't tell me Qin Yu was in fact secretly in love with Liu Ruoyan and just to get her attention, he deliberately always put that expression on his face for her to see?

Unaware that Li Luo thought had long ago strayed a thousand miles apart, Qin Yu stretched out his arm and held Li Luo waist. He remove the headband out if Li Luo's long hair and then slowly combed it, "You are also not allowed to get married, I want you to always be with me. Mucheng, I have no Fuhuang nor Muhou [2], I only have you. Mucheng, you aren't going to leave me as well, are you?" Qin Yu's voice was trembling a little with traces of worry. His hands that held Li Luo's waist also tightened a bit.

This man was the only one he wanted after the loss of his parents. He couldn't and wouldn't let him go.

This man had long been carved into his heart, if pull out his heart would also cut out together with it.

After listening to Qin Yu's words, Li Luo's heart couldn't help but tighten and his swirling thoughts from just moments ago immediately disappeared. He extended his hand, and gently rubbed Qin Yu's head, just like he did when Qin Yu was a helpless little boy, "All right, I promise you, I will always stay with you."

Qin Yu's hold of Li Luo tightened. When facing such kind of gentleness, he was neither able to resist, nor willing, so instead he just let himself indulge in it, unable to extricate himself. Even if he had to use a method that would hurt their relationship, even if he had to forced him in the end, and make him hate him, he would not let go of him.

He could only belong to him and him only.

That night, Li Luo and Qin Yu just embraced each others and did not speak. However they became much closer, as they unconsciously slept.

...

"Useless! Useless! You're all a bunch of useless people!" Inside the huge palace, reverberated a loud roar of rage. A person in bright yellow robe and embroidered dragon boots was walking to and fro with a heavy pace, which reflected the owner's angry and anxious heart.

Qin Yan's eyes were red and his chest was going violently up and down. When he went to the front of a table, he hit the tabletop heavily and once again screamed, "You useless people! Get the hell out of here!!!"

Kneeling on the ground, the shivering, and full of cold sweat officials, that were half bowed moments ago, immediately retreated out of room in a trembling manner.

Qin Yan waited until all the people were out, and the door was closed again, before falling on a chair as though he had lost all his strength.

His red eyes had a crazed look to them as he was thinking. Why was that little bastard still alive? He should have died that year, yet why hadn't he?

No, even if he wasn't dead, this Qin country could only be his, Qin Yan's!

He did not believe that all of his officials were useless people. There must be a solution, certainly there had to be some kind of solution. Thinking of the message he had received of Qin Yu leading an attack on the Yunxi City, Qin Yan's hand that held the cup, couldn't help but start trembling, spilling the tea on himself.

Just then, the door opened once and the outside sunlight came in.

Qin Yan immediately became furious, so he threw the teacup in his hand, "Who allowed you to come in?"

"Son." A woman in a gorgeous palace dress slowly walked over. Even through there were a few wrinkles on her face, she was still beautiful.

"Muhou." Once Qin Yan saw that she was the person that had entered and his angered expression immediately vanished. Though after that loud shout he didn't know what to say.

"It's all right, this country of Qin, would always be yours. The son of that lowly hussy would not be able to take it away." Li Fei [1], who now was empress dowager Jing Chun, looked kindly at Qin Yan as she walked beside him and touched his cheek, "Look who your mother brought for you."

A person with a sturdy figure appeared at the doorway, when Jing Chun empress dowager finished her words. Half of his hair had already whitened and he had a pair of sharp eyes with a resolute face that could be seen very clearly even against the light.

"This, this is!" Qin Yan's face immediately showed an ecstatic expression, he suddenly stood up from the seat above.

As long as this person helped him, he would able to withstand Qin Yu's attack as his bargaining chips increased by three-four points. With this buffer time, he could also have more time to think about how to deal with Qin Yu. After all, he was the current emperor of Qin country, so he was the one in control of power; in theory compared to Qin Yu, he was a lot stronger.