OL CH20

Chen Tian had initially intended to ignore Bai Su on purpose, giving him the cold shoulder to teach him a lesson. He wanted him to understand that from now on, whenever something arose, they had to discuss it together. They were the most intimate of partners; how could he be kept completely in the dark about such a major matter?

What if a more perilous situation arose in the future, and without any discussion beforehand, he went recklessly charging in on his own?

Yet seeing his sweetheart attempting to appease him so clumsily, Chen Tian ultimately could not bring himself to be stern.

Sighing internally, he cupped the back of Bai Su’s head and deepened the kiss. Venting a bit of lingering frustration, he showed no restraint, kissing the man breathless before finally letting go and gathering him tightly into his embrace.

Chen Tian buried his face in the crook of his sweetheart’s neck, mumbling sullenly, “For such a monumental matter, you didn’t even consult me beforehand. Do you even have a place for me in your heart?”

Hearing this, Bai Su lowered his eyelashes. “I was only thinking that I wished to return to the army as soon as possible. That way, with an official post and military merits, I might be worthy of Your Highness.”

“What worthy or unworthy? In my eyes, you are the very best. I couldn’t care less about any of that!” Chen Tian frowned.

“But I care,” Bai Su replied, looking up into Chen Tian’s eyes with solemn resolve. “I want to stand side by side with Your Highness.”

Seeing his sweetheart so adamant, all words of rebuttal were swallowed back down.

Chen Tian’s love was pure and unconditional; whatever Bai Su was like, he cherished him completely. Since his lover possessed his own ambitions, he had no intention of stopping him from pursuing them.

It was just that this man was always a handful day after day, keeping him constantly worried. An aggrieved expression inevitably crept onto Chen Tian’s face.

Observing this, Bai Su assumed the man was still angry and felt somewhat baffled.

If he went to the frontier and seized the chance to grasp military authority, wouldn’t that benefit King Ning? Why was he unhappy instead?

Bai Su could not make sense of it. Yet while he was eager to return to the army, he harbored his own anxieties.

Even though he and King Ning were deeply affectionate in the capital, it remained entirely in private. Both being men, their current relationship could not see the light of day. King Ning was exceptionally dashing and refined, the dream partner of countless maidens.

If he left the capital far behind, with so many people fawning over King Ning, would the man turn around, forget him, and end up with someone else?

Beset with worry, Bai Su kept his expression composed, resolving that he had to make King Ning realize his indispensable value.

Composing himself, he retrieved the Xuan Iron Token from his robes and placed it into his sweetheart’s hand, saying solemnly, “Chenye, this is the Xuan Iron Token my grandfather left me, used to command the Iron Xuan Guards. After I depart the capital, the Iron Xuan Guards remaining here are entrusted to you, to deploy as you see fit.”

Chen Tian looked down at the black token in his hand and nodded.

He already knew the capabilities of the Iron Xuan Guards from 009. Although he had his own subordinates as a prince, they were not as capable as the Iron Xuan Guards. With this command token, should he ever need to aid Bai Su, it would grant him greater convenience.

Furthermore, this token was of paramount importance. For Xiao Bai to hand it over to him, didn’t that prove the depth of his love and trust?

At this thought, Chen Tian’s mood brightened considerably.

Bai Su noticed King Ning’s expression soften, followed by a warm smile. Bai Su mirrored the smile, appearing gentle and serene on the outside, yet a wave of bitterness surged within his heart.

Sure enough, it was just as he had expected. Having acquired the Xuan Iron Token, King Ning was pleased.

Military intelligence was pressing. After appointing Bai Su as Grand General in court today, the date was set immediately for his departure the following morning.

Remembering this, Chen Tian no longer had the luxury of brooding over his anger. Hurriedly escorting Bai Su back to the Marquis’s estate, he returned to his own residence and began packing everything he felt would be useful on the road and in the army.

It was only when the steward of the prince’s estate saw his master stuffing trunk after trunk, reminding him that the Heir could not possibly take so much luggage to the frontier, that Chen Tian finally stopped.

He only lamented that this was neither a cultivation realm nor a futuristic sci-fi world where spatial storage rings or pocket dimensions existed.

Frowning as he picked and culled items, Chen Tian settled on two massive wooden trunks, ordering servants to haul them over to the Marquis’s estate and straight into Bai Su’s courtyard.

Regrettably, once the trunks were opened, Bai Su still discarded more than half of their contents.

“Everything I brought is indispensable. It’s getting cold now, so you need extra padded coats and quilts. If you take all these out, what will you do when you need them?” Chen Tian protested with clear disapproval.

Bai Su did not know whether to laugh or cry as he pulled an exquisitely carved bronze hand warmer from the discarded pile. “Is this an indispensable item as well?”

There were quite a few similar items in the trunks.

Chen Tian rubbed his nose sheepishly. “I… I was just worried you’d be cold.”

He could not stop thinking about making Bai Su’s journey more comfortable. Even knowing the man could not carry it all, he still brought over everything he thought was good, hoping Bai Su might take a few extra items along.

In addition, he had a separate small parcel prepared for Bai Su, packed full of banknotes and top-grade medicinal ointments. Chen Tian urged him to keep it on his person at all times.

There was also a suit of gold-thread soft armor, which he had ordered craftsmen to rush out earlier, insisting that Bai Su wear it beneath his clothes at all times.

Observing King Ning like this, Bai Su felt that whether this concern was genuine or feigned, it brought a quiet warmth to his heart.

Knowing his beloved was marching off to war the next day, Chen Tian watched him finish packing his bags and was still loath to leave.

By this time dusk had fallen, and Bai Su felt equally reluctant to part. Coupled with certain intentions he had long harbored in his heart, he deliberately invited Chen Tian to stay for dinner.

Once darkness fell outside, he murmured softly, “The hour is late. Why doesn’t Chenye stay the night here?”

Chen Tian, who had already planned to shamelessly linger overnight, was naturally more than willing!

After washing up, the two lay in bed wearing their inner robes. This was their second time sharing a bed since returning from Huguo Temple.

Chen Tian was thrilled to lie beside his sweetheart, yet despondent that the young man was leaving the capital in the morning. With both emotions tangled, he temporarily lost any urge to take liberties.

Beside him, however, Bai Su was on edge throughout. He wanted to solidify their relationship before departing.

He was incapable of overtly seducing anyone, nor did he know how, yet he was unwilling to leave things as they were. Once he reached the battlefield, there was no telling when he would return.

Biting his lower lip, Bai Su made up his mind at last. He reached out to clasp the hand of the man beside him. Seeing no rejection, he closed his eyes, turned around to pull him into an embrace, and firmly kissed the person he loved most.

The sudden favor caught Chen Tian off guard. Yet after their robes were half-shed and they had indulged in plenty of sweet intimacies, Bai Su still showed no sign of stopping, steering things directly toward going all the way. Chen Tian was forced to catch his hands.

“You have to set out early tomorrow morning. I don’t want the journey to be too grueling for you,” Chen Tian explained gently, gazing intently at Bai Su.

It was not that Bai Su wished to stop, but staring at the man for a long moment and seeing the firm resolve in King Ning’s eyes, he knew his wish would not be fulfilled tonight.

Lowering his gaze to hide the darkness in his eyes, Bai Su rested his head quietly against the man’s shoulder and moved no further.

Chen Tian sighed internally. It was not that he failed to understand Bai Su’s feelings, but this was simply not the right time.

No matter how gentle he was, the first time would still bring soreness for a few days. With urgent affairs at the frontier, Bai Su had to ride on horseback rather than travel by carriage. How could Chen Tian bear to let him suffer that?

So he merely pressed a tender kiss to Bai Su’s brow and wrapped his arms securely around him.

The next day, Bai Su set out early as planned.

Chen Tian stood upon the city wall, watching his lover’s retreating figure, lingering long in the morning sun.

He remained until that distant silhouette vanished at the end of the road, lost from sight.

Stepping down from the city wall and casting another glance at the bustling capital, the easygoing smile Chen Tian usually wore had completely vanished.

This city was now devoid of his beloved’s presence. Bai Su had departed, taking Chen Tian’s heart with him.

Anyone familiar with him who looked closely could even discern a faint, chilling aura of slaughter radiating from him.

Without hesitation, he turned toward the imperial court. At this moment, the prince who had long been too indifferent to act finally felt a stir of fighting spirit.

It was time. He would purge this rotten court so his lover would have no worries behind him while fighting on the battlefield.

Bai Su rushed to the frontier without pause. Although General Shang was stationed there, he was advanced in years and lacked decisiveness. Despite trying every tactic, he found it difficult to repel the enemy.

Great Yan’s sudden invasion had caught them off guard, but it was not without its advantages.

At the very least, this war had begun much earlier than in the original plot. At this stage, Great Yan’s alliance with the Take Tribe was far from stable, and the losses they suffered previously had not fully recovered. When combat broke out, Xiling was not completely suppressed.

Once Bai Su arrived, he took full strategic control. His first instinct was to sow discord between Great Yan and the Take Tribe.

The Take Tribe had indeed annexed many surrounding small tribes, riding high in momentary triumph.

The crucial flaw was that this had happened too quickly. Many of the annexed tribes had not submitted with genuine loyalty, harboring deep desires for vengeance, which made executing Bai Su’s plan far easier.

Two factions that scarcely trusted one another to begin with could hardly coordinate smoothly once rife with suspicion.

This afforded Bai Su the opportunity to reverse Xiling’s declining fortune in short order. While continuous triumphs were impossible immediately, they were at least able to fight Great Yan on equal footing, denying the enemy any advantage.

This undeniably raised the morale of the border soldiers, and Bai Su’s prestige in the military soared in tandem.

Many of the frontier generals were veterans from Old Marquis Bai’s ranks. Now, having witnessed Bai Su display extraordinary talent and tact, they took him as the leader they would follow and swear fealty to.

His renown reached its peak after a crushing victory against the enemy, where he personally severed the head of the opposing commander.