TVSS Chapter 33

Chu Heng brought Su Jingxuan into the tent not to seek further clarification about what he had just said. Even though Su Jingxuan’s words were vague, Chu Heng had already guessed the truth behind the tragic death of General Nalan on the battlefield. Having made those deductions, there was no need to inquire further, to expose the young man’s blood-soaked scars.

The downfall of Prime Minister Nalan, the former Nalan Consort, and the currently defeated Nalan family—these seemingly unexpected misfortunes were probably not accidental.

With the urgent situation in the Northwest, they would break camp and hit the road early the next morning. Su Jingxuan, with his entourage of elderly and infirm, couldn’t possibly keep up with their fast-paced march. Therefore, Chu Heng needed to make some arrangements.

“Tomorrow, I will depart immediately. I’ll send someone to escort you to Yubei. Once there, do not go to the Yubei palace immediately. Instead, reside temporarily in my estate. After the conclusion of the military affairs, I will personally bring you to the palace and transfer the authority over Yubei’s fief to you.”

Chu Heng made a decisive decision. In his heart, the current court no longer had a trace of his trust. If they were to send someone alone to Yubei, he feared the local officials might resist, and he was even more afraid that the emperor had set hidden traps to eliminate witnesses.

“I want to go to the Northwest with you,” Su Jingxuan asserted rather than inquired while Chu Heng helped him tidy up his hair, expressing his thoughts.

“Be obedient. The battlefield is dangerous,” Chu Heng used a tone as if coaxing a child, with an expression as if he was protecting a precious treasure.

Unable to suppress his smile, Su Jingxuan responded, “I can protect myself. I want to go with you.”

Chu Heng was well aware of the young man’s ability to defend himself. Despite the frequent display of a docile and delicate appearance, he knew that the youth’s true nature was bold, confident, and resolute.

However, the battlefield was unpredictable and dangerous, and no one could guarantee absolute safety. He could allow the young man to have his way with other matters, but not this one. Thinking so, he decided to be firm in his refusal.

But before Chu Heng could express his thoughts, Su Jingxuan took the initiative, reaching out and hugging him tightly, pressing his head against Chu Heng’s chest, clearly expressing his reluctance.

Chu Heng stiffened momentarily due to this unexpected intimate action. This kind of close and affectionate embrace made his sharp eyebrows appear softer, and his heart felt hot.

Unable to resist, he also reached out to embrace the person, holding him tightly against his chest. “Rest assured, I will return soon.”

No matter how severe the situation on the Northwest battlefield, he would return alive. With the young man by his side, how could he bear to die in battle? If he were to die, who would protect him?

However, Su Jingxuan was unusually firm, raising his head. “Your Highness, words won’t change my mind. I am determined to go with you.”

His tone emphasized his determination, and his beautiful eyes looked at Chu Heng. The hands hugging his strong waist did not let go, displaying a strong dependence, as if he had forgotten his identity and the difference in status between them.

The young man’s body was exceptionally soft, enough to make a person lose their composure instantly. Chu Heng took a deep breath, trying hard to restrain himself, tightening the hands that embraced him.

“Listen to me,” he spoke with a gentle tone that had never been used before. His profound gaze shifted from black to a deep, dark color. If anyone saw this, they would be shocked to witness the stern Crown Prince revealing such intense tenderness and affection.

Seeing Chu Heng’s changing gaze, Su Jingxuan’s smile deepened, once again resting his head on Chu Heng’s chest, savoring the fragrance he liked.

“Your Highness, I want to be with you. I don’t want to leave you. I can protect myself, and I won’t cause you trouble. I’m worried about you, and my heart belongs to you.”

“You said what?” Chu Heng paused, his heart pounding like thunder.

“I said, my heart is pleased with Your Highness.”

Su Jingxuan leaned against him, his voice clear and penetrating. “The Emperor took me into the palace only to stabilize his position. He doesn’t like me, never sees me, never touches me. I don’t like him either. The day Your Highness entered the capital and saved me on the city tower, my heart was already pleased with Your Highness.”

Chu Heng’s breath paused, his grip tightening on the hand that held Su Jingxuan.

“I know I am not worthy of Your Highness, but Jingxuan has always been persistent.”

Su Jingxuan raised his head, changing the hand around Chu Heng’s waist to climb onto his neck. Standing on tiptoe, he kissed him without hesitation.

“The Emperor harmed the entire Nalan family. I have decided to take his throne, kill him to vent my anger, and support the third prince to ascend. This will only take three years. If Your Highness has a place for me in your heart, after it’s all over, I will fake my death and leave the palace, change my identity, and accompany Your Highness for the rest of your life.”

“What if I don’t have you in my heart?” Chu Heng’s heart was beating rapidly.

“If Your Highness doesn’t have me in your heart, after the third prince ascends, I will capture you and keep you by my side. Over time, feelings will develop. I will try every method to make you like me. If you still don’t like me until death, it’s not regrettable to be buried with Your Highness.”

Su Jingxuan smiled with narrowed eyes, not concealing his thoughts at all.

If others heard these words, they would find them terrifying. Such rebellious and domineering words—yet the young man could say them so directly.

However, Chu Heng only felt a swelling and ecstatic joy in his heart.

“You like me. Shouldn’t you wish for my happiness? If I don’t like you, you still force it. Is that your idea of liking someone? What if I already have someone in my heart?”

He didn’t know what he was saying anymore. He just wanted to hear more and more from the young man.

“If Your Highness already has someone in your heart, I won’t like you anymore. In this world of millions, I don’t care about other people’s kindness. But my heart is so dark. Your Highness, you’re unlucky because I’ve set my eyes on you.”

Su Jingxuan’s feelings were singular and passionate, burning enough to consume a person’s soul, making people fall in love with him passionately.

Chu Heng couldn’t hide his smile anymore. His mood was so excited that he lowered his head, capturing the young man’s thin lips, using a forceful and rolling method to express his own feelings.

Su Jingxuan was slightly stunned, then took the initiative to get closer, eagerly opening his mouth to accept the aggressive kiss. The corners of his eyes smiled like a mischievous little wildcat stealing a kiss.

Outside the tent, the two soldiers guarding the entrance turned their backs, listening to the faintly ambiguous sounds inside the tent, their gaze unwavering.

Through the thin tent fabric, the old eunuch saw the two figures embracing and kissing from time to time, silently wiping away a tear, his heart filled with complexity.

That night, Su Jingxuan stayed in Chu Heng’s tent and slept peacefully. They did nothing, just slept, as they had to set out early the next morning.

The loyal old eunuch had a difficult night outside the tent, relieved only in the latter half of the night when he didn’t hear any red-faced and heart-pounding sounds from inside the tent.

Although the two had spent a night alone in the tent, it was still a bit worrying for him.

When Chu Heng came out of the tent the next morning, he ordered someone to escort Su Jingxuan and the other attendants to Yubei. Su Jingxuan and the third prince set off towards the Northwest while the old eunuch watched, stunned.

“Rest assured, I will protect your master well,” Chu Heng said with a rare smile, his tone gentle.

Rest assured? It’s only because it’s you that I’m not assured! You’ve been pretending to be a gentleman, but now you’re revealing your true nature.

The old eunuch was horrified, wanting to speak up to stop them.

But Chu Heng didn’t give him the chance. After speaking, he lifted Su Jingxuan onto his warhorse, and the third prince was taken away by another general. With a command, the entire army set off.

The old eunuch could only watch in amazement as his young master was intimately embraced by the Crown Prince, and they galloped away on their horses. Faintly, he heard Su Jingxuan’s reassuring voice, and the old eunuch couldn’t help but shed tears.

The journey to the Northwest was long. Although Chu Heng led the army day and night, it would still take more than half a month.

Initially concerned about whether Su Jingxuan and the third prince could endure the hardships of the journey, Chu Heng was surprised by Su Jingxuan’s physical resilience. He didn’t resemble a pampered palace male consort.

Although the third prince was only nine years old, his mental fortitude was extraordinary. Throughout the journey, he didn’t utter a single complaint or show any signs of pain, even when his legs were chafed and bleeding from riding on the horse.

Their performances not only earned Chu Heng’s admiration but also the respect of the soldiers in the Northwest. They thought to themselves that these were the offspring of the loyal Nalan family, possessing a resilience that ordinary people could not match.

Su Jingxuan, unaware of his own resilience due to the changes brought about by his reincarnated soul, was particularly satisfied with the third prince’s performance.

Bringing the child to the Northwest wasn’t just for experience; it was also for familiarity. Although it was a bit ruthless, the child had to endure. After all, he was the future emperor, and to obtain as much as he wanted, he had to put in effort and sweat.

The boy’s unexpected performance pleased Su Jingxuan. However, he was surprised that the child’s personality was even more difficult to approach than he had imagined.

When applying ointment to the wounds, the child didn’t let Su Jingxuan get close, instead taking the medicine bottle and applying it himself. When Su Jingxuan taught him letters and morals, the child listened quietly without offering any responses. His dark eyes were intimidating, making others fearful.

He was like a lone and arrogant wolf. Even when wounded, he would lick his own bloodstains. Despite others’ attempts to be friendly, he raised his sharp claws, preventing anyone from entering his territory.

Su Jingxuan had encountered such individuals before, but seeing a child of such young age with such a mature mindset genuinely pleased him.

Not letting the difficulty of getting along bother him, Su Jingxuan believed in sincere interactions. Given time, he was confident that the child would eventually offer trust. After all, children were human, and humans could be swayed.

For a child with such a mature mindset, with proper guidance and nurturing, there would be limitless possibilities for the future.

If, in the end, they couldn’t form a close bond and the child refused to acknowledge him, Su Jingxuan would still fulfill his responsibilities of care and guidance. He was generally a person with an open mindset.

Once he came to this realization, Su Jingxuan stopped dwelling on the child’s lack of response and decided to be patient. If he couldn’t form a deep connection, as long as he fulfilled his duties of care and guidance, that would be sufficient.

After this half-month journey of long-distance travel, the three thousand elite troops, led by Su Jingxuan and Chu Heng, finally reached the Northwestern border.