Chapter 60 His Young Husband Wears the Dragon Robe

Chapter 60 His Little Husband Wore the Dragon Robe

Twenty *li* from Pingchuan Valley, as dusk fell, the entire army halted and made camp.

Inside the emperor's central command tent, Yan Weichu was studying the area's topographic map.

Pingchuan Valley was a long, narrow gorge with steep mountains on both sides and dense forests—precisely what military strategists called a "death ground." Beyond this valley lay a natural grassland where the imperial court maintained two large horse ranches. This time, under the pretext of inspecting the ranches, he had detoured to Pingchuan Valley.

Aside from Cui Shao and Yan Biao, two Capital Garrison generals were also present in the tent. They were among the few who knew the true purpose of this journey, and all wore serious expressions as they awaited the emperor's instructions.

Yan Weichu lightly pressed his finger against the map, lost in thought.

Scouts reported that traces of the Tutehans had indeed been discovered not far from the valley entrance.

A faint smile curled at Yan Weichu's lips. The fish were biting.

The news of the imperial procession detouring to Pingchuan Valley had been deliberately leaked through Jiang Shu. He wanted to see how the Marquis of Loyal and others would react. If he had wronged the Marquis of Loyal, the man would surely find another way to relay his whereabouts to the Tutehans. Unfortunately—

The Marquis of Loyal was disloyal, wasting all the trust his male cousin had placed in him.

"Pass the order: at the beginning of the Chen hour (7-9 AM) tomorrow morning, the entire army will advance through Pingchuan Valley," the emperor declared decisively.

The leading general advised him, "Your Majesty, please do not go. Stay here and let your subjects lead the troops. This mission is perilous—you must not risk your safety."

Yan Weichu had previously promised Liu Zhu he would stop halfway. When they passed a courier station yesterday, these men had already urged him once, yet he had insisted on coming this far.

Yan Weichu lowered his gaze and fell silent for a moment. Though he very much wanted to go to the front lines to see for himself, he also knew that his presence would divert their attention to protecting him, potentially causing unnecessary casualties. So be it.

"Tomorrow morning, the main force will advance first. I will remain here with a thousand Imperial Guards as escort," Yan Weichu relented.

Everyone felt relieved. Fortunately, the emperor was not so stubborn as to ignore advice. As long as the imperial safety was ensured, they could act with greater freedom.

Cui Shao asked further, "Your Majesty, what about the civilian officials in the entourage? Should they remain here or accompany the main force tomorrow?"

Yan Weichu initially had no intention of keeping anyone, but after a moment's thought, he said, "Inform them tomorrow morning to avoid leaking the plan. Have your men change into their clothes and pose as civilian officials following the imperial procession, so the barbarian scouts won't grow suspicious."

Cui Shao bowed and accepted the order.

The Capital Garrison general then reported another piece of news: on the day the imperial procession departed from Wulong, the thirty thousand troops stationed outside Jinyang City for many days had entered the city under imperial decree. "The Jinyang Guard colluded with local officials to defy the decree and closed the city gates. The Capital Garrison Troops used battering rams to force open the gates, detained all civil and military officials in the city, and await Your Majesty's judgment and punishment."

Yan Weichu cursed upon hearing this, "How dare these dogs!"

Cui Shao added that on their way to Jinyang, they had intercepted a merchant caravan attempting to leave the border privately. After entering the city, the Qilin Guard and Jinyiwei used the confessions from the caravan to arrest individuals, uncovering a web of connections. Several major merchants in Jinyang were imprisoned, and within just two days, preliminary calculations from confiscating their properties revealed over thirty million taels of silver alone. Including other assets like land, the total was likely over a hundred million.

Yan Biao, standing nearby, clicked his tongue in amazement. He wished he had swapped duties with Zheng Shize—though the money wouldn’t end up in his own pockets, as a prince, he had never seen such wealth in his life!

Yan Weichu, however, darkened his expression. How could a few merchants yield more from confiscation than what he had seized from the Prince Regent's residence and the various noble families?

Then again, it wasn’t entirely surprising. The Prince Regent had only risen to power in the last decade, and the noble families dependent on him were not among the most deeply rooted. Moreover, being in the capital under the emperor's watch, there were limits to how much they could embezzle. Here, it was different. Most of these major merchants had built their fortunes over a century, colluding with border generals, nurturing bandits to maintain their influence, and profiting immensely. It was no wonder they were so wealthy—true parasites of the state, deserving of death by a thousand cuts!

"Detain them for now. Once matters here are settled, we will deal with them," Yan Weichu said offhandedly, not wanting to waste energy on them now. In the end, it would just come down to execution.

After nightfall, he dismissed the attendants in the command tent, read for a while, but felt restless.

Lost in thought, he rose, took the sword Xie Xiao had gifted him from the rack, held it in his palm, stroked it for a moment, and sighed.

*I wonder what my cousin is doing now?*

*I miss him, I miss him, I miss him...*

This so-called lovesickness was truly something he was experiencing firsthand.

Fortunately, once the Tutehans were dealt with tomorrow and the bad apples removed, the border would be fully stabilized, and he could safely bring his cousin back to the capital.

The hard days were finally coming to an end.

*

Later that night, Xie Xiao stood alone on a hilltop for a while, gazing into the distance. The outline of Pingchuan Valley was faintly visible under the starlight and moon.

But to actually reach it, they would have to cross several more mountains.

Since setting out from Wulong yesterday evening, he had led his troops over mountains and ridges, taking shortcuts and marching urgently day and night without sleep, finally arriving here.

Driven by worry, he had never felt such anxiety and unease. Even as he struggled to restrain himself, the taut string in his mind kept twitching, reminding him of his own lack of calm.

Leading troops without imperial orders was something he would never have done in the past. Yet at this moment, he hadn't considered the consequences nor did he regret it. His only thought was to see that person quickly, to ensure the one he longed for was safe and sound.

The Deputy General approached, asking if he wanted some dry rations.

Xie Xiao snapped out of his thoughts. "Leave it there. I'll fetch it myself later."

The Deputy General already knew the purpose of this journey and remarked, "The emperor is young but bold, daring to use himself as bait. I wonder what his chances of success are."

Xie Xiao said, "The emperor may not go personally, but others certainly will."

This was what worried him most. The emperor could stay behind midway, but what about the others?

Xie Xiao, agitated, fell silent. In the heart-pounding chill of the mountain night wind, he slowly closed his eyes and ordered, "Rest here for the night. Set out again at first light."

*

At daybreak, the imperial procession set off.

Only a thousand Imperial Guards remained silently at the rear, staying behind on standby.

Cui Shao entered the command tent. Yan Weichu had just risen, looking listless as if he hadn’t slept well the previous night.

In truth, he had tossed and turned for most of the night, only managing to fall asleep thinking of Xie Xiao in the latter half, so he felt particularly weary in the morning.

Cui Shao reported, "Your Majesty, the civilian officials have learned of your strategy and are clamoring that even if you aren’t risking yourself personally, using a decoy imperial procession as bait is beneath your dignity and damages Dajing's prestige..."

Yan Weichu rolled his eyes. "Who's clamoring? Give him a knife and send him out on a swift horse. He can still catch up with the main force now. I grant him permission to go uphold Dajing's prestige on my behalf."

Zhao Anfu, perceptive, sent someone to relay the message. Moments later, he returned to report that those outside had now fallen silent.

Their official robes had already been taken for the military officers to wear, yet they still couldn’t behave. They spoke without bearing the burden, asking for trouble if left unchecked—utterly begging for trouble.

Cui Shao wisely stayed silent, deeply agreeing.

The distraction from these meddlesome civilian officials actually lifted Yan Weichu's spirits a bit. He drank some porridge and ordered the scouts to relay frontline reports at any time. Once the battle was nearly over, he still wanted to go see for himself.

After all, he was already here.

*

Pingchuan Valley.

A morning fog had risen, and banners fluttered in the wind. The fifty-thousand-strong army, like a long dragon, slowly advanced deep into the valley.

The full view of the mountain valley was partially visible through the mist. The commanding general slightly raised his head, his gaze piercing, slowly sweeping over the silent forests on both sides.

The Deputy General rode over, jerked his chin forward, and gave him a knowing look.

Understanding the signal, the general ordered, "Pass the order: maintain formation, focus on protecting the Imperial Majesty, and advance at an accelerated pace."

The army's speed gradually increased. At the center, surrounded like stars encircling the moon, stood a strikingly eye-catching golden-red canopy, heavily guarded on all sides.

The innermost layer consisted of the Imperial Guard, each wearing a waist-mounted goose-quill saber, standing in strict formation.

Soldiers from the capital camp followed closely, guarding the front and rear with spears and shields. Their formation appeared loose but was in fact deliberately arranged.

Just as the entire army entered the valley, a sudden change struck.

From afar came rumbling sounds like distant thunder, and the ground began to tremble slightly.

"Cavalry! It’s Tutehan cavalry!" cries rang out from the front lines.

In an instant, the sound of hooves thundered from both ends of the valley, and clouds of dust billowed as countless Tutehan cavalrymen closed in from the front and rear, launching a pincer attack.

"Change formation! Protect the Imperial Majesty!" the commanding general barked.

Well-trained soldiers swiftly shifted into a circular formation, encircling the imperial carriage in three tight layers. The outer shield bearers knelt, driving their massive shields firmly into the ground. The second row extended their long spears through the gaps between the shields, while the innermost row consisted of Shenji Battalion musketeers raising their firelocks.

Simultaneously, the Imperial Guard unsheathed their swords, forming an impenetrable defense around the emperor’s carriage.

By the time their formation was complete, the enemy cavalry had reached them.

The vanguard, unable to halt their charge, crashed into the wall of spears, toppling both riders and horses. Those fortunate enough to avoid the spears fell to the firelocks of the Shenji Battalion.

The following cavalry hurriedly pulled up their horses and scattered to both sides.

These invaders had caught sight of the Dajing emperor’s procession and charged forward relentlessly, at any cost.

From the rear, the Tutehan Khan glimpsed the golden-red canopy from afar, his eyes flashing with excitement: "The Dajing emperor is indeed among them! Pass the order: execute pincer maneuvers from both sides. Capture him!"

Amid the sound of horns, Tutehan cavalry split into two groups, launching a fierce assault in an attempt to break through the flanks.

But they failed.

Even when they managed to create an opening, soldiers on both sides quickly closed the gap, restoring the circular formation.

They faced an impenetrable wall of spears and shields.

Within the formation, the tarpaulins covering the supply vehicles were thrown aside, revealing over a hundred pre-loaded mounted crossbows. The soldiers quickly adjusted their angles, aiming at the relentless onslaught of enemy cavalry.

The devastating barrage of bolts instantly broke the enemy’s charge.

Both the formation tactics and the mounted crossbows were strategies Xie Xiao had once discussed with Yan Weichu—standard tactics used by border troops to counter the barbarian cavalry.

Though Xie Xiao was not present, every move in this battle bore traces of his contributions.

Amid the fierce fighting, the golden-red canopy stood firm, serving as the perfect bait to draw the enemy’s forces.

Unable to break through the Dajing formation, the Tutehan forces grew increasingly agitated, their charges becoming disorganized.

With a thunderous roar, massive boulders unexpectedly came crashing down from the heights near the valley entrance.

At the same moment, countless banners rose from the forests on both sides, and war drums shook the sky. Bing Yuanzheng’s hundred thousand strong eastern army revealed itself, reversing the situation.

Witnessing this from the rear, the Tutehan Khan, who was directing the battle, was furious, realizing they had fallen into a trap.

"Retreat! Full retreat!" he shouted hoarsely, but it was too late.

Bing Yuanzheng’s ambush forces did not descend to engage in close combat. Instead, leveraging their elevated position, they rained down arrows, rolling logs, and boulders.

Trapped, the Tutehan cavalry were completely vulnerable, and unable to mount an effective defense.

Seeing the situation turning against him, the Tutehan Khan abandoned further engagement. Guarded by his personal troops, he fought his way back, enduring the hail of arrows and stones to force his way out of the valley mouth.

*

Pingchuan Valley was now in sight. The sounds of battle ahead echoed, making Xie Xiao’s heart pound. He dug in his heels into his horse, urging it into a gallop.

The fleeing Tutehan Khan came face to face with Xie Xiao’s troops on the mountain path.

The Tutehan Khan reined in his horse, his eyes widening in recognition of Xie Xiao. Noting the hundreds of cavalry behind him, he cursed inwardly.

Xie Xiao, having faced the Tutehan Khan on the battlefield before, naturally recognized him as well. It was a case of old foes meeting unexpectedly. After months of searching fruitlessly for this man in the northern deserts, he had now found him without effort.

He drew his sword, pointing it forward, and commanded in a low voice, "Capture him."

With only a few dozen men fleeing alongside him, the fight ended in less than a quarter of an hour.

Xie Xiao knocked the Tutehan Khan from his horse with a single stroke of his sword. Without a second glance, he ordered his subordinates, "Take him alive," and galloped straight toward Pingchuan Valley.

*

In Pingchuan Valley, the remaining Tutehan forces, disheartened by their leader’s flight, were now defeated and vulnerable.

The sounds of battle in the valley gradually faded. Thirty thousand Tutehan cavalrymen had been annihilated, their forces completely destroyed.

Yan Weichu’s carriage appeared at the rear valley entrance. He had arrived discreetly, without royal fanfare.

Hearing that the Tutehan Khan had escaped, Yan Weichu frowned with displeasure and asked the scout who delivered the news, "Have we sent anyone in pursuit?"

The scout reported, "Commander-in-Chief has dispatched cavalry, but they fled too quickly. It’s uncertain if they can be caught."

Yan Weichu’s brow furrowed. "He cannot be allowed to escape again. Pursue him at all costs and capture him for me."

Xie Xiao led his troops from the front of Pingchuan Valley, sweeping the area to eliminate fleeing Tutehan stragglers.

With the fall of the last Tutehan cavalryman, the battle came to an end.

The capital camp general was both surprised and delighted to see Xie Xiao, but Xie Xiao had no time for pleasantries. His first glance was toward the imperial carriage, only to see Yan Biao standing there instead. Just as he was about to ask, he caught sight of Yan Weichu alighting from a carriage ahead.

Overwhelmed by a surge of emotion, Xie Xiao recklessly urged his horse into a frantic gallop toward him.

Yan Weichu, however, had not noticed Xie Xiao’s arrival. He had just stepped down and was intently discussing matters with Cui Shao when he was suddenly enveloped in a fierce embrace.

The emperor’s attendants were caught off guard, unable to react in time to stop Xie Xiao, who had dismounted and rushed toward Yan Weichu.

Yan Weichu himself was stunned. Falling into the familiar embrace, surrounded by Xie Xiao’s presence, his tense body gradually relaxed. He whispered softly, "Cousin..."

Cui Shao reacted swiftly, leading all Imperial Guard soldiers to retreat three steps and turn their backs.

After a brief silence, Xie Xiao suddenly released Yan Weichu and stepped back abruptly.

Yan Weichu was taken aback.

Xie Xiao’s expression seemed frozen, only the shock in his eyes betraying his disbelief.

It was as if he had only just seen clearly—or realized—that the young man before him was wearing imperial robes.

The dazzling five-clawed dragon pattern captured Xie Xiao's attention completely. He slowly and repeatedly confirmed it several times before he was sure he wasn't seeing things.

He also detected the faint, cool fragrance on Yan Weichu—a scent he knew all too well, one that lingered around his nose during their intimate moments, impossible to mistake.

All surrounding sounds faded away. The only thing Xie Xiao could hear now was the frantic pounding of his own heart, thumping relentlessly, reminding him this was not some absurd dream.

Yan Weichu hadn’t expected Xie Xiao to appear like this, suddenly revealing his secret. His cousin’s reaction made him somewhat distressed, and he hesitated, wanting to say something: "Cousin, I... I've missed you."

But Xie Xiao couldn’t take in a single word. His blank mind kept replaying all the things Yan Weichu had said before—

"Who matters more to you, me or His Majesty?"

"Actually, today is my birthday too."

"His Majesty is also my own cousin."

"I can empathize with this."

"His Majesty is more handsome than I am."

"I don’t mind if you like His Majesty too."

"..."

Calling him "cousin," never summoning him in person, even giving him the Imperial Sword...

The clues had been there all along.

He should have realized it sooner—there was no heir to the Count of Anding, Bian Chun. There was only ever Emperor Jingchun, Yan Weichu.