The Glory

Hаn Yаn hеsitаtеd for a momеnt bеfore wаlking over tо him аnd саlling оut sоftly, "Your Нighness."

Fu Yunxi slightly raised his heаd tо loоk at hеr. Тhоsе dark рhоеniх еyеs no longer hеld thе usual gеntleness he shоwed her; thеre was sоmеthing рrоfоund аbоut them that Наn Yan соuldn't quitе understаnd. Yet, undеr Fu Yunхi's gaze, Наn Yan inеxplicаbly felt a раng оf pаnic. She didn't know whу—thе fеeling саmе tоо suddеnly. Вut Fu Yunхi showеd no intеntion of sрeаking, sо Нan Yаn сlеаred her throаt and said, "You're abоut to go to wаr?"

"Yes." Fu Yunxi's tоne gаvе nothing аway—no regret, no emotion. Han Yan found it strange. His attitude was as if they had just met, distant and cold. If it were the Han Yan of her previous life, faced with such inexplicable and rude treatment, she would have long been overwhelmed with grievance. But now, aside from confusion, Han Yan had no other thoughts.

"Why so soon?" she asked. "Wasn't it said that the campaign would be next year?"

Fu Yunxi looked at her quietly, sighing inwardly. This girl's first concern was actually this. She didn't show even a hint of sadness. Could it be that he had been overthinking things? Did Fu Yunxi hold any place at all in this girl's heart? When other women faced the fact that their beloved was going to war, they would either weep sorrowfully or plead for him to stay. But Han Yan... it seemed neither was likely.

"The Western Rong are making major moves. We must end the war as soon as possible," he said.

Han Yan nodded, but her brows unconsciously furrowed. If the Western Rong were making major moves, the Great Dynasty shouldn't be rushing into battle so hastily. Could it be that something major had happened? But if a war truly broke out, although the Great Dynasty was wealthy and powerful, it wasn't necessarily foolproof. Han Yan still remembered the incident with the Crown Prince being pursued by assassins and the matter involving Zhuo Qi. It seemed to indicate that there were traitors within the Great Dynasty's court colluding with the Western Rong. With such internal and external cooperation, the Great Dynasty might not gain any advantage in a war. Then, as the commander-in-chief, Fu Yunxi... wouldn't he be in great danger?

Han Yan stole a glance at him and saw him leisurely drinking tea, his posture relaxed. A surge of anger rose in her heart. Before Fu Yunxi went to war, had he ever thought of her? His current demeanor didn't seem like he was going to explain anything to her. Han Yan said coldly, "Your Highness, with the campaign imminent, when will I be married into your household?"

She didn't even use the humble term "your servant," asking bluntly without courtesy. If others heard this, they would surely be shocked, as women had always been in a passive position regarding marriage. What unmarried woman would so boldly ask a man, "When will I be married into your household?" This was too shocking. Even Fu Yunxi, who was always composed, nearly choked on his tea.

Lost in thought, Fu Yunxi set down his teacup and looked up to carefully examine Han Yan's expression. Her face was cold, and there seemed to be a trace of resentment in her brows. In his memory, Han Yan had rarely been so icy toward him. Was she angry? He then said, "After I return from the campaign, we will marry."Now Han Yan was truly about to die of anger. After returning from the expedition, this was the answer Fu Yunxi gave her. She knew that anything could happen on the battlefield, yet he only had these few words. Enraged to the extreme, Han Yan laughed instead, looking at him with a light tone: "Has Your Highness never considered that if something were to happen on the battlefield, wouldn’t Han Yan be left to live as a widow for you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the room seemed to freeze. Fu Yunxi remained silent, only staring intently at Han Yan, his gaze as deep as a still pond. Han Yan regretted her words almost immediately. Why did she have to joke about Fu Yunxi’s life? She knew that such talk was most taboo on the battlefield, and her words were indeed too harsh, almost verging on a malicious curse.

Fu Yunxi looked at her, wondering if he had spoiled this little girl too much, allowing her to develop such an unruly temperament. If someone else had said such words, they would have died countless times already. Yet when Han Yan said it, he only felt a sense of helplessness, as if he had truly pushed her to the brink. Otherwise, how could she speak such willful words like a child?

So Fu Yunxi suddenly curved his lips into a smile, his voice low: "So afraid that this prince might die? Worried you won’t be able to marry?"

Han Yan was taken aback, completely unprepared for him to say such a thing. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. But looking at Fu Yunxi’s expression—though it was only a faint smile—his teasing tone had returned to the way they used to interact, no longer as stifling as before.

Han Yan turned her head away: "Nonsense. What do you mean, ‘won’t be able to marry’?"

Fu Yunxi stood up, forcing Han Yan to look up at him. He leaned down and whispered softly in her ear: "This prince sees from your expression that you seem eager to cross the threshold, wanting to marry me right now."

His voice was gentle and deep, and as he spoke close to her ear, the warm breath felt extremely intimate. Han Yan’s heart raced for a moment. After all, this body was only that of a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl, and facing someone she liked, she couldn’t help but feel stirred. But Han Yan dared not show it, only taking another step back: "Your Highness overestimates. It’s just that matters on the battlefield are unpredictable. Since Your Highness has made this decision, you must have thought it through long ago." By now, her emotions were no longer as furious as before but had gradually calmed down. She then asked: "May I ask Your Highness, what role does my marriage to you play in all this?"

Han Yan wasn’t speaking recklessly. Before this, Fu Yunxi had never hinted that he would be heading to the Western Rong so soon. Even Han Yan herself had assumed Fu Yunxi would marry her before going to war, but that wasn’t the case now. Fu Yunxi wasn’t someone who would suddenly change his plans, which meant that this expedition to the Western Rong had been part of his plan from the beginning. So, was her marriage also a part of this plan? Though she wasn’t sure what purpose it served, the timing of the marriage would determine its role.Fu Yunxi sighed inwardly. Han Yan was perfect in every way; her intelligence and quick-wittedness were unmatched. Fu Yunxi didn’t think there was anything wrong with being shrewd and calculating. Cheng Lei had once said that a woman should be pure and kind, like a blank sheet of paper, to be considered beautiful. Han Yan was definitely not a blank sheet of paper. Her ruthlessness and decisive, uncompromising actions were more like a painting stained with ink, rich with meaning. Perhaps because Fu Yunxi liked Han Yan as a person, he felt her cunning was not a flaw but rather an admirable strength. If it were someone else with the same level of scheming, Fu Yunxi likely wouldn’t have the same attitude.

"The marriage has nothing to do with the war." That was the truth. Fu Yunxi had never regarded his marriage to Han Yan as a bargaining chip in a transaction or a means to achieve some goal. In his view, marrying Han Yan and agreeing to this union was because he loved her. But it was clear that the young woman before him didn’t believe his words at all. Her eyes plainly said: "You’re lying, and I won’t believe you."