Chapter 18 – Tyrant VS National Teacher (18)
Not only that. In the first year, Mo Yi had already completely frightened those tribes that disturbed the border. In the second year, he reported to the court, led troops on an expedition, and one by one conquered those border tribes, expanding the territory for Xi Ling.
In the third year, after many years, the Xi Ling border finally became peaceful, and those scattered tribes had no choice but to submit. However, Mo Yi did not continue the aggression; instead, he reorganized these tribes, showing no disdain for their diverse bloodlines. He recruited many talented individuals among them for his use.
Moreover, because Mo Yi himself had the bloodline of different tribes, the tribes under his management did not reject him. Especially as he brought in people from Xi Ling to teach them how to cultivate crops and did not demand excessive tribute, these tribes settled down, prospered, and multiplied.
No matter how much Mo Yi longed for the satisfaction of killing on the battlefield, he always remembered Mu Jin’s words. Mu Jin told him he hoped Mo Yi would earn the admiration of thousands.
So, for the sake of that wish, he was willing to restrain his own craving for bloodshed. Even when tortured by the blood curse, despite a strong desire to release his pent-up emotions on the battlefield, Mo Yi held back.
The nomadic tribes, originally harassing the border due to hunger, now mostly followed Mo Yi willingly, sincerely submitting to him.
On the other hand, after Mo Yi left, Mu Jin did not return to the imperial palace but went directly to the Xuan Qing Temple.
He did not stay secluded as usual but instead welcomed those who came to flatter him. Even in the face of olive branches extended by the Fifth Prince Mo Dun and the Empress Dowager, he did not explicitly refuse, handling these people with ease.
Soon, Master Chong Ming gradually handed over the Xuan Qing Temple to Mu Jin, who also took charge of numerous rituals and divinations.
Everyone could see that although the physical appearance of Master Chong Ming still seemed robust, he had the intention of stepping down.
Two years later, Master Chong Ming truly withdrew to the mountains, leading a life of pure cultivation. Meanwhile, Mu Jin officially stepped forward, becoming the new national teacher.
Now, Mu Jin’s reputation was no less than that of the former Master Chong Ming. Everyone knew that the new national teacher was quite capable, but his unrestrained personality, seemingly acting based on personal likes and dislikes, made it difficult for people to discern any patterns.
Three years passed, and the health of the Emperor deteriorated further, displaying signs of impending decline. Nevertheless, he still had not designated a crown prince.
The party supporting the Fifth Prince, initially arrogant and confident of securing the throne, became increasingly uneasy.
With the rising fame of the Third Prince Mo Yi, the Emperor still showed no clear inclination. The House of Anping worried about the potential outcome, fearing their efforts might be in vain.
Especially recently, there were frequent memorials from the border in praise of the Third Prince, reaching all corners of the court.
Even though the Emperor had not expressed a clear stance, the Marquis of Anping could discern from Emperor Wen’s expression that he was quite satisfied with Mo Yi’s achievements in the past two years.
Now, with the year-end approaching, the Emperor unexpectedly decided to summon Mo Yi back to the capital for a report. This move caused a stir among the entire court.
Many courtiers began to speculate, thinking it was very likely that the Emperor intended to establish a crown prince using this opportunity.
The Empress Dowager felt that this might be a good opportunity. Since they might not have much influence when far away, being in the capital was a chance to exert their control. They could easily fabricate charges against this low-born prince and prevent him from ascending.
However, the Empress Dowager overlooked the fact that the current Mo Yi had already changed significantly. He was no longer the helpless child who let others manipulate him.
Controlling the entire northern army, Mo Yi was rightfully considered a war god in the hearts of the border residents. Especially among the military officials in the court, they admired him wholeheartedly.
Learning that the Third Prince was returning to the capital, the person most excited was naturally Mu Jin.
Although the two had exchanged letters for the past three years, it could not compare to a real face-to-face meeting.
On the day the expedition returned, Mo Yi sat on a tall horse, wearing armor, radiating a heroic aura.
His stature seemed to have grown considerably, and the hardships of military life had stripped away the greenness, turning the youth into a true man.
At this moment, Mo Yi’s sharp eyes resembled those of a hawk, his lips pressed into a thin line, exuding a stern presence. Even with handsome features, they couldn’t conceal the majestic aura. His amber-colored pupils casually swept around, as if he could see through people’s hearts.
Mo Yi led the deserving heroes who returned from the battlefield, receiving the welcoming cheers of the capital’s residents.
For this war god of the northern region, no one was a stranger. After all, in the past two years, not only storytellers in taverns but even children’s nursery rhymes sang praises of the Third Prince, who defended the country, expanded Xi Ling’s territory, and achieved great feats.
As for the anecdotes from storytellers and the songs sung by children, standing on the rooftop, Mu Jin held a wine glass, leaning against a pillar, gazing at the upright figure of his beloved with a smile, keeping his achievements and fame hidden.
On the warhorse, Mo Yi also seemed to sense something. He turned his head to look towards the high point of a nearby tavern and indeed saw a familiar figure.
Three years had passed, and it seemed his Brother Jin had not changed at all, still holding a wine glass in his hand. Mo Yi wondered if his advice had been heeded. Perhaps, when he wasn’t watching, Brother Jin secretly indulged in more drinks.
The two locked eyes, and deep camaraderie was visible in each other’s gaze. Seeing Mu Jin leaning against the pillar, cheeks flushed with a wine glass in hand, Mo Yi’s fleeting smile disappeared.
Little Drunkard! A thought echoed in the man’s mind. Unconsciously, he quickened the pace of the procession, wanting to enter the palace quickly, hoping to finish the official duties and then meet the person he had been yearning for.
Returning to the court, Mo Yi bowed and paid respects to the Emperor in front of the courtiers. The Emperor, looking at the child who now openly displayed his imposing aura, revealed a contented, faint smile and immediately conferred upon Mo Yi the title of Jing Wang1.
“Jing,” inherently carrying the meanings of stability and pacification, was a title affirming Mo Yi’s contributions in the northern region.
Upon hearing the Emperor’s decree, the Marquis of Anping’s expression changed momentarily. However, he quickly put on a forced smile, appearing joyous. He couldn’t help but feel that this time, the return of the Third Prince was not as simple as it seemed.
After the morning court, Mo Yi did not return to the palace. Having been away from the capital for a long time and now being conferred a prince, he naturally had been assigned a corresponding residence. The subordinates moved swiftly, making it feasible to settle in today.
However, Mo Yi didn’t care much about where he stayed. As soon as he left the palace gate, he disappeared without a trace, leaving the courtiers who wanted to flatter the newly appointed prince bewildered. It seemed this prince had vanished in the blink of an eye.
In a courtyard behind the Xuan Qing Temple, Mu Jin was waiting outside his room. Bored, he played with the flowers and plants by the fence, but his eyes remained fixed on the entrance, lost in thought.
This was Mu Jin’s residence, and usually, even disciples from the temple couldn’t come here casually. Therefore, most of the time, it was just Mu Jin alone, accompanied by the vast expanse of plants and trees he cultivated, not feeling lonely at all.
After waiting for a while with no movement at the entrance, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Just as he was about to walk to the door to wait, he felt a warm breath behind him, and his body was tightly embraced from behind.
“Brother Jin, who are you waiting for?” The deep, resonant voice of a man vibrated through Mu Jin’s ears.
He couldn’t help but tilt his head and look at Mo Yi’s sturdy profile. For a moment, Mu Jin felt a bit dazed.
Yi Er had indeed grown up, turning into a man who could stand on his own. He was no longer the child Mu Jin had once protected under his wings.
The man embracing him was exceptionally tall. Even when Mu Jin stood upright, he only reached the other’s chin.
In these years, Mu Jin had not grown any taller, but he didn’t expect Mo Yi to have grown even taller. At this moment, being held in his arms, Mu Jin had the illusion that he was the younger one.
“Why isn’t Brother Jin speaking?” Mo Yi lowered his head slightly, rubbing his chin against Mu Jin’s head, full of intimacy.
Feeling the closeness of the person beside him, Mu Jin blushed slightly. He felt that his little one seemed different after three years. Although they had been close before, the current attitude and feeling were completely different.
Feeling a bit flustered for no apparent reason, Mu Jin lowered his head to hide the embarrassment in his heart and whispered, “Who do you think I am waiting for, Yi Er?”
At these words, Mo Yi’s lips, usually straight, curved into a smile. He leaned in close to Mu Jin’s ear and said, “Could it be that Brother Jin is waiting for his beloved?”
The warm breath in his ear made Mu Jin feel like he was about to catch fire. Unexpectedly, after three years, his little one had become so charming. Angrily glaring at the man behind him, he couldn’t bear to break free from the warm embrace.
After so long without seeing each other, they missed each other deeply. Seeing Mo Yi so up close, Mu Jin felt a mix of emotions. Unable to hold back, his eyes slightly reddened, and he decisively turned around, tightly hugging Mo Yi’s waist.
There were too many feelings in his heart, and he didn’t know how to express them.
Mo Yi also seemed to sense Mu Jin’s emotions. Seeing him like this, he couldn’t help but feel a warmth in his heart. He felt that the cold blood that had persisted for three years was finally warming up.
The two embraced at the door for quite a while before entering the room. Mu Jin had many questions for Mo Yi, wanting to take a good look at the child he had watched grow up and to know how he had been these past few years.
Author’s note: Hehehe, Xiao Gong is rising, and finally, there can be a lot of sugar. Because the first world of the double-secret love requires a gradual process. After the end of this small world, I will release a big move, and then the following worlds can be filled with sugar, hahaha~
Note :
- Jing Wang mean Stabilizing Prince ↩︎