After my soul traveled to ancient times, I don't want to be cannon fodder

And technology, what does technology mean?

Shen Yan was about to ask again, but Zhong Ning didn't want to talk too much with him.

"Some things won't make you understand just by me telling you. You just need to know... I have no ill intentions. Before I traveled through time, I was just a recent college graduate. It took me a long time to adapt to this place."

"I know how to read because after I escaped from Kaoshan Village, I found a teacher and studied diligently for two months."

"I know martial arts because I received a heaven-given opportunity. I won't tell you the details."

"As for what I want to do, you just need to know that I have no ill intentions. I just want to save this country."

"To be honest, I once dreamt of the future, so I knew about the Nanzhao princess's use of a curse to control the crown prince, and I also knew that Dayong would be divided among the three kingdoms in the near future."

"So everything I did in the court was to try to save the country. Whether you believe it or not, I don't care."

"The reason I've said all this to you is simply to tell you that with my current abilities, it would be easy to kill you. But I didn't do it because I respect your human rights."

"In our country, human rights and life are above all else."

"Even though I possess absolute power now, I am still a normal person. I have received education from the country, so I will naturally respect human rights to the greatest extent possible."

"I don't want to be completely melted by this era, so I've been trying every possible way to stick to my original intention. But if you threaten me, I will personally execute you. Do you understand?"

Zhong Ning's voice was light, but it carried a power that could not be ignored.

Shen Yan clenched his fists slightly, then raised his head and asked, "So, when we were in the mountains, you turned back to save me... because you respect life and human rights?"

"Hmm..." Zhong Ning responded softly, then said, "Shen Yan, the reason why I told you this secret was naturally planned long ago. Since I can't hide it anymore, I will be honest with you, but..."

Zhong Ning lowered his eyebrows, his voice slightly cold, and continued, "Once a secret is revealed, it is no longer a secret, but I will not kill you."

"I just received something special from that otherworldly spirit. It can make you lose your memory...forget everything that happened today, and forget everything that happened before."

"From now on, you just need to be your stepfather, Ying, and live a life without any troubles. This is my greatest hope for you!"

Shen Yan smiled bitterly, his face pale. "In the final analysis, you still don't believe me... You don't believe my feelings for you, and you don't believe that I will use my life to protect you, even your so-called secret..."

"It's not that I don't trust you, but I don't trust human nature. In this world, only the dead can keep secrets! Shen Yan, don't force me to execute you personally!"

There was a coldness in Zhong Ning's voice, without a trace of mercy!

"I understand... Your Highness... I understand everything..." Shen Yan looked at Zhong Ning with hurt eyes, then closed his eyes and said in a trembling voice: "But for me, if life is pale, what is the meaning of living?"

Shen Yan's gaze was persistent and stubborn. If you looked more closely, you could see a hint of affection and despair in it.

Zhong Ning's heart trembled, but he still replied indifferently:

"Don't force me like this. I don't want to kill you. I just want you to lose your memory. When you wake up, we will get to know each other again."

"You are my cousin. I will protect you well and make sure you live a life of wealth and happiness without worries!"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your consideration..." Shen Yan smiled bitterly, then continued, "But before I forget all this, I still have one wish..."

Shen Yan looked pleadingly, "This is the last one, please..."

Zhong Ning sighed. Everyone said they wouldn't kill him, so why did he still do this? He even fulfilled his last wish. It really was...

Forget it, I am now a ninth-grade master, and killing Shen Yan is easy as pie. I will listen to what he wants to do.

No matter what, this person has helped me before.

"Just tell me, if I can do it, I will naturally help you!" Zhong Ning crossed his arms, his eyes cold.

"Of course you can do it..." Shen Yan whispered, "Come closer..."

Zhong Ning looked at him inexplicably and felt speechless.

Then she took a step forward, sat directly on the bed, and looked at him with bright eyes.

Shen Yan raised his eyes, his face slightly red, and said in a gentle voice: "Your Highness, no, Aning... I really like you, so, can you... hug me?"

"Given your current status, we are cousins. In our country, close relatives cannot marry, and we must not violate the rules in the slightest..."

"Why?" Shen Yan was puzzled. Most of the relatives here were relatives.

"Because the blood relationship is too close, it will affect future generations..."

The corner of Shen Yan's mouth twitched slightly: "Is there still a chance that you and I can have offspring?"

Zhong Ning:........

"There's no chance. I never planned to have children..."

"Then...what else are you worried about?" Shen Yan's eyes were clear and bright. "Can't I just hug you?"

That’s not impossible!

Zhong Ning opened his arms and hugged the person directly in his arms.

The boy's body trembled slightly, and he snuggled in Zhong Ning's neck, as if he had obtained some treasure.

Shen Yan hugged Zhong Ning tightly, sighed contentedly, and then asked in a trembling voice, "Aning, if there is an afterlife, can I go to the world where you are? By then, will you still recognize me?"

Zhong Ning was silent for a moment, then patted Shen Yan on the back, "Don't talk nonsense, you won't die. After this, you will still be your uncle Ying. I promise you that I will protect you for the rest of your life and make sure you live a life of wealth and peace."

"When I entered the palace that day, His Majesty gave me two options," Shen Yan suddenly said, as if recalling the scene of the audience with the emperor that day. "One is to survive. He will issue an edict to confer me the title of General Yongwei of the fifth rank, but from then on, I can only be Shen Yan and cannot return to my ancestral home."

"There's another one... a dead end!"

"His Majesty said that my father left behind a private guard, composed of death squads. Under Fu Lin's command, they have attempted to assassinate Your Highness many times. They hide in the darkness and cannot be found. We need an heir to the Duke of Ying's bloodline to successfully draw their firepower."

"He will confer the title of Duke of Ying on me, allow me to return to my ancestral home, become the descendant of Duke Ying, and change my name to Fu Yan. But the condition is that I must become a torch and lure Fu Lin and his private guards out."

"I could die at any moment, but it would be a worthwhile death...at least you would be much safer..." Shen Yan's voice seemed to soften a lot when he said this. "My death is better than yours!"

"Aning...I was the one who abandoned you. I understand why you don't believe me."

"But, don't bother... Rather than forgetting everything, it's better to eliminate your future troubles..."

Shen Yan pushed Zhong Ning away suddenly and inserted the dagger hidden under the pillow into his lower abdomen.