Spring arrives and the land smiles

After resting for a whole morning, everyone gathered together at noon.

Compared to the meeting hall and back room of the Yushan mining area, the Yushan residence had everything one could need. Zhuier prepared a table full of delicious food, which greatly improved Qingyan's mood.

Qingyan was injured, so everyone ate in her bedroom to make it easier for her to get along.

There was only a small round table in the side hall of the dormitory. Lan Zhen sat next to Qing Yan stubbornly. Luo Qing shook her head, sighed softly, and sat down opposite Qing Yan.

Looking at Lan Zhen beside her, Qingyan said to him in an annoyed tone, "Go back to the barracks as soon as you finish eating. I don't need you causing trouble here."

"Li Muqing will return to camp in two days. He will handle the aftermath. It doesn't matter whether I go back or not." Lan Zhen shamelessly refused to leave.

“If you’re not leaving, I will.” Qingyan picked up her bowl and ate. “I’m setting off for the southeastern border tomorrow, so you can stay here by yourself.”

"Tomorrow? No way!" Luo Qing quickly objected. "Your wounds have already shown signs of worsening due to overwork these past two days. If this matter hadn't been so dangerous, I would never have let you go through this. Now that everything is over, you finally get a few days to rest, and you're setting off for the southeastern border again. Are you trying to kill yourself so I can't save you?"

Hearing Luo Qing's series of objections, Qing Yan tried her best to avoid Lan Zhen and winked at him.

Luo Qing immediately realized what was happening.

However, Lan Zhen also realized what was happening.

"I'll go with you."

"No need," Qingyan immediately refused.

"The journey is long and fraught with danger; I'm worried about it."

"It's none of your business." This person is truly unreasonable.

"You called me Brother Zhen, so I'll take care of you for the rest of my life."

"You..." Are you out of your mind? "You are a prince of Southern Xia. Why don't you fight for the throne and instead follow me around all day? My abilities are limited, and I can't even protect myself right now. In the end, you can only rely on yourself."

"Little Yan'er, do you think I'm seeking your protection?" Lan Zhen said with a smile.

No, that's not it. Qingyan knows a thing or two about Lan Zhen's strength. It would be suitable to cooperate, but to offer protection would be a bit presumptuous.

"Your Highness Prince Zhao commands 200,000 border troops and 5,000 elite Xuanjia soldiers. I only offered to protect you because I overestimated my abilities. I just don't understand. This is a crucial moment in the struggle for the throne. Lan Yu has already lost the initiative, and there is only Lan Jing left. Why would you give up such a great opportunity?" Qingyan analyzed that Lan Zhen's behavior seemed more like hiding, trying to extricate himself from the vortex of the struggle for the throne.

"Little Yan'er, it seems you're quite familiar with the political situation in my Southern Xia. Is it because you care about me that you're extending your affection to everything I do? Hahahaha." Lan Zhen raised an eyebrow at her, teasing her without hesitation.

“We’re talking business now. If you keep slacking off, I’ll… I’ll…” Qingyan couldn’t think of any words to threaten him.

"So what if I do that?" Lan Zhen persisted, continuing to tease her.

"I just..." Qingyan was at a loss for words and, in desperation, punched Lan Zhen.

What is this thing made of? How can it be so sturdy? Qingyan's punch not only failed to harm Lan Zhen, but also aggravated her own wounds, causing Qingyan to frown.

Qingyan's frown did not escape Luo Qing's notice.

"Alright, you two, calm down," Luo Qing said, trying to smooth things over. "Eat this, it'll help your injury heal faster." With that, she lifted a stew pot off the table and pushed it towards Qing Yan.

It was another medicinal meal. Qingyan looked at Luo Qing with a bitter expression, then helplessly picked up the soup spoon.

Lan Zhen secretly chuckled as he watched her reluctant yet helpless expression.

"You, talk this out calmly, don't provoke her. She's injured and shouldn't get angry." Luo Qing didn't let Lan Zhen off the hook either.

Lan Zhen withdrew his teasing gaze, composed himself, and lowered his voice: "Half a month ago, I accidentally saw my destiny in the records of the Imperial Observatory. It was a combination of the Indirect Resource and the Seven Killings without restraint, and the Life Palace and Body Palace were overlapping, with the Broken Army and Greedy Wolf stars both meeting in the Life Palace."

"What?" Luo Qing was shocked and even knocked over the wine glass in her hand.

"Is there anything wrong with this fate?" Qingyan was unfamiliar with Ziwei astrology and didn't understand.

Seeing her puzzled yet inquisitive look, Lan Zhen patted her head and said with a smile, "In short, I am not destined for the position of Crown Prince."

"So, this is the reason you left the palace at a young age and joined the army at the age of fourteen? How could your mother bear to do this!" Luo Qing became agitated.

"If it weren't for that, how could I have a brother like you, someone I'd share life and death with? I should thank this fate." Lan Zhen said dismissively, continuing, "A few months ago, I received information from palace spies and guessed that my father and mother were using my position as the principal wife as a bargaining chip to make my younger brother the crown prince, making me the target of everyone's criticism. I thought it was normal for my younger brother to be favored by my mother since he was only eleven years old, and if I stood out, my father wouldn't turn a blind eye. I never imagined that they had never taken me seriously and had tacitly approved of everything I did, just to pave the way for my younger brother. I was nothing more than a stepping stone. It all stemmed from a fate predicted by a wandering sorcerer. Don't you think this is the most ridiculous thing in the world!"

Lan Zhen laughed, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

The royal family is indeed unusually cold-hearted. Seeing this, Qingyan suddenly wanted to tell him to accept her condolences, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Lan Zhen continued, "A few days ago, I reached an agreement with my father. I can give up the position of crown prince, and I will do my best to ensure that my younger brother ascends to the position of crown prince." He paused here, looked at Qing Yan with deep affection and fervor, and Qing Yan blushed immediately.

"My father has granted my permission to marry into the Great Qi and become the concubine of the Great Qi Princess."

"What?" This time it was Qingyan's turn to be shocked. "Lan Zhen, are you crazy? Even if you can't become the crown prince, you don't have to be so self-destructive."

"Little Yan'er, I'm not giving up on myself, I'm seeking your protection." Lan Zhen started his playful, carefree manner again. "I have distinguished myself in battle. If I don't become the crown prince, I'll be killed sooner or later for overshadowing the emperor. Rather than staying in Nanxia and living in fear every day, I'd rather stay away from the turmoil and live a carefree life. Besides, I've been in love with you for a long time. How could I let go of such an opportunity?"

"You..." Qingyan was speechless for a moment, and after a long while she managed to stammer out, "My father will not agree."

"Little Yan'er, you're just fooling yourself. The neighboring prince is offering to marry into the family to mend fences. Do you think your father would refuse? He might not even ask for a betrothal gift, and he might even give you a dowry. Maybe your father is already drafting an imperial decree to grant the marriage." Lan Zhen laughed and pulled Qing Yan into his arms, only to be pushed away by her fiercely.

"Lan Zhen, why are you only telling me now? You've gone too far! I don't agree to the marriage proposal." Qing Yan was truly furious.

Lan Zhen and Luo Qing were both stunned by Qing Yan's unexpected rejection of the matter.

I thought that after going through thick and thin together, we would have developed some affection for each other, but I never expected that this little girl would be so stubborn.

Luo Qing looked at Lan Zhen sitting there blankly, and knew that his feelings must be very complicated. He touched the white jade in his arms, feeling a little reluctant, but in the end he couldn't bear to see his brother so lonely.

"Princess, you made a promise before, I wonder if you can fulfill it now?"

When asked to keep her promise, Qingyan could guess what it was. She couldn't say no, but she didn't want to say yes either. In the end, she nodded.

Luo Qing took out a white jade pendant and placed it on the table: "I hope that Her Highness the Princess will grant this marriage and treat Lan Zhen well from now on, so that the couple can live in harmony..."

"Wait a minute." Lan Zhen seemed to understand what was going on, and quickly snatched the jade pendant, interrupting Luo Qing.

"You, put it down." Luo Qing reached out to snatch the jade pendant, but Lan Zhen dodged it.

Lan Zhen examined the jade pendant in his hand for a while, and it seemed that Qing Yan had worn it close to her body. So he raised the jade pendant and shook it: "Little Yan'er, since it is a promise made to Luo Qing, and he and I are brothers in life and death, I will speak on his behalf."

Qingyan glanced at him.

Lan Zhen was not annoyed and continued, "Luo Qing has saved you many times. If it weren't for his superb medical skills, you would have died long ago. So this promise is to bring us both into the Eastern Palace as your sons-in-law."

What? One wasn't enough to cause trouble, now there are two? Qingyan suddenly felt like her brain couldn't keep up.

"Lan Zhen, what nonsense are you talking about?" Luo Qing shouted, "Princess..." Just as she was about to correct Lan Zhen, she was ruthlessly interrupted by him.

“I’m not lying, Luo Qing. If you didn’t like her, why would you go to such lengths for her?” Lan Zhen grabbed Luo Qing’s wrists, the thick bandages particularly glaring. “The Golden-bellied Python is such a ferocious creature. A slight mistake could cost you your life. Why would you do this? Are you still deceiving yourself?”

“Your Highness,” Lan Zhen’s expression suddenly turned serious, “A gentleman’s word is as good as his bond. Please allow us to marry into the Crown Prince’s family together.”

These two are really infuriating her. Qingyan snatched the jade pendant from Lan Zhen's hand and said through gritted teeth, "Fine, you've been bullying me like this. Wait until you enter the Eastern Palace, and see how I deal with you." After saying that, she got up and went to her bedroom.

After taking a few steps, she felt something was missing, so she turned back to the two of them and said, "Bring some food to my room. I'm not going to make myself sick over arguing with you." With that, she stormed off.

Lan Zhen looked at her empty hands, then at Luo Qing, who was still unaware of what was happening.

"She—has she agreed?"

"probably."

The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

Since receiving Qingyan's promise, Lan Zhen has become even more attentive, acting as if he were the prince consort, and is practically sleeping in Qingyan's room.

Luo Qing, on the contrary, became even more shy. She used to take the initiative to treat and change Qing Yan's dressings, but now it was only after Zhui'er urged her that she came to Qing Yan, her face flushed. While changing the dressings, she was afraid of having too much contact with Qing Yan, making Qing Yan feel awkward. She steeled herself and said:

"Luo Qing, you're still my fiancé. How can you act like you've touched a monster just because you touched me? Can't you learn from that scoundrel Lan Zhen?"

After saying that, she simply pulled up her shirt, revealing her entire shoulder. The modified bellyband hugged her curves, making Luo Qing blush even more.

Despite his composure, the doctor's technique for changing the dressing remained light and skillful, minimizing Qingyan's pain.

"It's all changed." Luo Qing looked at Qing Yan, straightened her clothes, and picked up the medicine box to go out, but Qing Yan stopped her.

"If you are unwilling, I can make you another promise."

Luo Qing looked back at her, a gentle light shining in her eyes: "How could I not be willing? Ever since that moonlit lotus pond, I have been filled with longing. I thought it was just a dream, but now that my dream has come true, I, I, am overjoyed." Luo Qing finished speaking in one breath, her face flushed as she left.

Lotus pond under the moonlight?! Qingyan recalled the first time she met Luo Qing at Huamanlou.

Well, the difficulty of cleaning up the mess has increased another layer. Qingyan lay down on the bed, thinking about how to explain things to those two in Shengjing.