Author's note:
¹: [Shang Dynasty period] The system of field (jingtian): 1 li = 900 (300 steps in length and breadth). Later, during the Qin and Han Dynasties, the jingtian system was abolished by Shang Yang's reforms, and the li gradually changed from an area unit to a length unit.
[Tang Dynasty period] 1 step = 6 chi, 1 li = 300 steps, this measurement system was used up to the Tang Dynasty.
[Clear Dynasty period] 1 li = 1800 construction chi; construction chi 1 chi = 0.32 meters, so 1 li = 576 meters = 0.576 kilometers
[Republic of China period] 1 li = 150 zhang = 500 meters = 0.5 kilometers. This li system was established for ease of conversion with Western length units and has been used ever since.
This article uses 1 li to be equal to 500 meters.
"Woof~"
The struggling "General" couldn't even "woof" anymore.
When Ye Xiao, covered in blood, approached with the Embroidered Spring Knife, what he saw was Huo Ling sitting on a fallen tree trunk, staring blankly, and the "General" in his arms, who was sticking out its tongue and rolling its eyes unconsciously.
"Woof woof~"
"Woof! Woof! Woof woof woof!"
The nearly suffocating "General" twisted its head and saw Ye Xiao, and excitedly struggled, but Huo Ling, who was immersed in his own world, did not notice its excitement. Even Ye Xiao didn't care whether it would die in Huo Ling's embrace in the next moment.
Giving the "General" a casual glance, Ye Xiao, unmoved, stood about thirty feet (about ten meters) away from Huo Ling. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his face, so as not to scare Huo Ling, but what he pulled out was a handkerchief already soaked in blood.
After a moment of silence, Ye Xiao quietly pocketed the handkerchief. He looked towards Li Gongming and the others, but as soon as his gaze swept over them, almost everyone subconsciously took a step back, with some even directly avoiding Ye Xiao's eyes.
In fact, Ye Xiao just wanted to borrow a handkerchief: "..."
Was he really that scary? He had no clear awareness of his own cruelty. Suppressing his dissatisfaction at being avoided even by Li Gongming, Ye Xiao, with an expressionless face, used the relatively clean part of his sleeve to wipe his face. Afterward, he walked over to Huo Ling, who was sitting on the ground, and knelt down with the knife as support, "Your Highness?"
Holding the "General," Huo Ling subconsciously responded, "Hmm?"
Rarely seeing Huo Ling so absent-minded, the concern in Ye Xiao's eyes overflowed into the corners of his eyes and brows. He was afraid that something had happened in his absence. Without even realizing it, Ye Xiao's voice softened, "Are you alright?"
Hearing Ye Xiao's voice, Huo Ling regained his senses. When he looked up, he met Ye Xiao's gaze and saw the troubled look on his face, but before he could express his apology, the "General" let out a piteous cry, having suffered another attack.
Finally noticing the "General's" condition, Huo Ling quickly let go, but before he could apologize, the "General" eagerly moved away from him, even running directly to Li Gongming, not Ye Xiao, and crouching behind him, clearly showing its full sense of disgust and grievance to everyone around.
Huo Ling: "..." Turning to face Ye Xiao, Huo Ling asked very seriously, "If I say there's something wrong, can you beat the 'General'?"
Daring to disdain him, his "big brother"? Did he have no dignity?
"Okay."
Without asking for the reason behind Huo Ling's request, Ye Xiao promptly agreed and stood up, preparing to approach the "General."
Actually, when Huo Ling asked, he didn't expect Ye Xiao to act so swiftly. He quickly grabbed Ye Xiao's sleeve and said, "No no no, I was just joking!"
Following Huo Ling's motion, Ye Xiao stopped. He lowered his gaze and looked down at Huo Ling, who was sitting on the ground. "Really?"
"Really," nodded Huo Ling.
"Joking?"
Huo Ling grinned and replied, "Yes, joking."
"Oh."
The next moment, Ye Xiao sat down beside Huo Ling.
After blinking, Huo Ling finally realized that Ye Xiao was actually joking with him. Although he didn't find it funny at all, the emotions stirred up by his recent ordeal had eased somewhat.
Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes in front of Ye Xiao, Huo Ling wiped his face with the handkerchief and said, "You always say I'm not dignified here and there, always criticizing me for not being 'decent.' Now look at you, you're not much better." Finally able to scold Ye Xiao for once, and realizing that Ye Xiao was unharmed and the blood on him was from someone else, Huo Ling felt relieved and imitated Ye Xiao's previous scolding manner, laughing at his own cleverness and showing his hatred clearly, just like Ye Xiao did.
"Behaving like this, where's your decency?"
After getting a servant to bring water, Huo Ling used the damp cloth to forcefully wipe the dried blood from Ye Xiao's face, all the while lecturing, trying to make him understand what "decency" meant.
"Look at you, disheveled and in a sorry state, not at all like a commander should be."
"Actually, you are not so refined, really... tsk tsk tsk."
Ye Xiao closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly curved, allowing Huo Ling to wipe away the blood from his eyelashes without caring whether Huo Ling was being deliberate or simply not adept at taking care of others.
When Huo Ling noticed the scar on the side of his face and instinctively lightened his touch, Ye Xiao spoke softly, "I was worried about you. It's because I'm worried that I don't care about 'decency' and just want to hurry over."
As for forgetting to leave anyone alive in the excitement and not avoiding the splattering blood, there was no need for Huo Ling to know that.
As expected, as soon as Ye Xiao finished speaking, Huo Ling swallowed the words of reprimand he had been searching for, and even the actions of his attendants became more gentle and careful.
Considering that perhaps it wasn't all bad to say what you have on your mind, even occasionally learning from His Highness, Huo Ling opened his eyes. Facing Huo Ling's moved gaze, Ye Xiao smiled gently, making Huo Ling feel somewhat uncomfortable. He coughed lightly and whispered, "You too." After carefully wiping Ye Xiao's face and finding only a minor scar on his cheek, Huo Ling also smiled, "It's good that you're okay."
On the side, Li Gongming felt incredibly out of place. He looked at the "General" spinning around Huo Ling and Ye Xiao, and at that moment, he felt like he was the one being avoided.
After a long silence, he chuckled.
Was it because he had avoided Ye Xiao's gaze just now, subconsciously not wanting to have contact with him?
This dog had really become clever.
Shaking his head, Li Gongming approached them as they stood up and called out, "Your Highness."
"Hmm?"
As Huo Ling prepared to go change clothes with Ye Xiao, he turned back, "What?"
Quickly walking up to Huo Ling, Li Gongming bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask, do you have any arrangements for what's to come?"
"Arrangements?" Huo Ling lightly blinked and naturally asked, "Isn't that something you all should consider?"
"Your Highness?"
Looking at Li Gongming, who was blocking his way, Huo Ling couldn't be bothered to care whether it was intentional or not. He strongly asserted, refraining from rolling his eyes, "For the things you promised to handle, handle them. If you can't handle it, discuss it among yourselves. If you ask me about everything, then what's the point of you?"
Upon contemplating Huo Ling's logic, Li Gongming found it reasonable. But in an instant, he avoided the pitfall set by Huo Ling and continued with his own thoughts, "We can check the situation, aid the victims, arrange manpower... We can do all these things. But to appease the frightened people, we need Your Highness."
Turning over, Huo Ling demonstrated the existence of the "Earth Dragon," proving that the dreamed-of "Divine Dragon" of the Crown Prince was real. It was the perfect time for Crown Prince Huo Ling, the chosen one, to gain the people's support. However, Li Gongming, as an adversary of Guan Yi, who held a negative view of Huo Ling, felt it necessary to remind him.
Appeasing the people and having Crown Prince Huo Ling do so were two different concepts.
Having understood Li Gongming's meaning, Huo Ling remained unfazed. "So what?" Was he rushing to play the so-called Crown Prince? Did he really need to hold his position so firmly under his butt?
"Your Highness, you can't act like this."
Li Gongming looked helpless, feeling that if he continued to interact with Huo Ling, he might end up standing on the same side as his adversary, Guan Yi.
Thinking this, Li Gongming couldn't help but earnestly say to Huo Ling, "Your Highness, this is what you should do." As the Crown Prince of Dazhou, he should behave like one.
“Why can't I act like this?” Huo Ling raised his eyebrows, looking impatient. "Is there anything else? If not, I'll leave with Ye Xiao."
Saying this, Huo Ling grabbed Ye Xiao's shoulder and was about to walk past Li Gongming, but to his surprise, Ye Xiao didn't move with him.
Huo Ling was puzzled, unable to understand why Ye Xiao hadn't followed his lead.
Seeing the puzzled look on Huo Ling's face, Ye Xiao removed the grass and leaves stuck to his collar and said seriously, “Your Highness, this is what you should do."
"Hmm?"
"What should a person of your status do? As the Crown Prince, what should you be doing?" Ye Xiao calmly responded with a question.
Ye Xiao didn't care what mindset Huo Ling had as the Crown Prince, nor did he care how Huo Ling acted as the Crown Prince. However, when Huo Ling chose to be passive in the face of the responsibilities of the Crown Prince, Ye Xiao didn't hesitate to advise him. As long as Huo Ling still considered him as his cousin, Ye Xiao had no fear.
The same words, when said by Li Gongming or by Ye Xiao, had different implications.
Huo Ling blinked, then blinked again, and finally gave in under Ye Xiao's calm, emotionless gaze. "Fine."
Lowering his head, Huo Ling prepared to freshen up before doing what a Crown Prince should do. However, before Li Gongming could say anything, Ye Xiao, who had always been critical of Huo Ling's "undignified" behavior, stopped him. "Your Highness, no need to change. Just go as you are."
“Why?” Huo Ling questioned.
Ye Xiao didn't answer but just gave him a slight smile.
"Okay," Huo Ling responded.
Unconcerned about the reasons, Huo Ling just wanted to quickly do what he needed to as the Crown Prince and then relax.
With this attitude, Huo Ling, accompanied by others, went to meet the timely response of Jin Yi Wei and the troops guarding the people who hadn't caused any chaos.
Initially, the people had been prepared to retreat thirty miles, but because of Huo Ling's insistence, they ended up retreating seventy miles. Though seventy miles wasn't far enough, the people were still affected, leading to casualties. Considering their strong reaction despite the distance, the central county of Yanchi might already be in ruins.
Because of this, when Huo Ling arrived, regardless of their internal thoughts, all the people knelt down, sincerely thanking the Crown Prince for his grace and benevolence.
The author has something to say:
1: A zhang is equal to ten feet.
In ancient times, the length of a zhang varied.
During the Shang Dynasty, a zhang was about 16.95 centimeters, leading to the saying "zhangfu," meaning a tall man.
During the Zhou Dynasty, a zhang was about 23.1 centimeters.
During the Qin Dynasty, a zhang was about 23.1 centimeters.
During the Han Dynasty, a zhang ranged around 21.35 to 23.75 centimeters.
During the Three Kingdoms period, a zhang was about 24.2 centimeters.
During the Southern Dynasties, a zhang was about 25.8 centimeters.
During the Northern Wei Dynasty, a zhang was about 30.9 centimeters.
During the Sui Dynasty, a zhang was about 29.6 centimeters.
During the Tang Dynasty, a zhang was about 30.7 centimeters.
During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, a zhang was about 31.68 centimeters.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, a zhang was about 31.1 centimeters.
He looked quietly at the people in front of him, seeing their own reflections in their eyes, and suddenly realized how foolish he had been when he wanted to go wherever it was cool not long ago.
Bathed in the eyes of the people, Huo Ling did not know what to say. After a long silence, he slowly said, "Just to be alive."
There were no grandiose words, no so-called empathy, and no formal words that a prince should say. Just a simple "just to be alive" infected the emotions of everyone present.
It was not clear who started crying first, and the alternating crying and laughing began.
The distance between life and death is just the phrase "just to be alive."
Watching the people immerse themselves in their emotions because of those four words, Huo Ling felt a bit uneasy and touched his face, completely unaware of whether he had done something wrong. He instinctively looked towards Ye Xiao.
Unfortunately, Ye Xiao, who was busy arranging things, did not even glance at him.
Huo Ling looked towards Li Gongming, who was talking to Gong Sun Jun on the side and felt his gaze. In response to him, Li Gongming bowed to him, and then turned back to continue talking to Gong Sun Jun.
Huo Ling: ".......''
Well, no one paid attention to him, and no one said he was wrong. Therefore - he was still the perfect Crown Prince.
Patting himself on the back, Huo Ling also gave himself an excuse.
...
The "earth dragon" incident affected the entire Yinnan area. However, due to the timely response of Crown Prince Huo Ling and others, Yanchi County, the center of the "earth dragon" incident, became the place with the least casualties.
Yanchi County became a ruin, but the number of casualties did not exceed fifty. The neighboring towns also suffered casualties. However, everyone who had experienced the terror of the "earth dragon," regardless of how they had previously viewed the Crown Prince, now genuinely thanked Huo Ling.
Yanchi County, under the construction of hopeful people, gradually recovered. During this time, Huo Ling, as the greatest hero, stayed in the place arranged by Ye Xiao, avoiding going out as much as possible.
Huo Ling behaved so obediently, not only because he had inadvertently infiltrated the "rebels" in the Yinnan area, and even appeared among the people of Beijiang in the Dazhou territory. He felt overwhelmed and ended up accidentally gaining more than three jin in weight.
When Ye Xiao handed in the report about the situation in Yanchi County, the Emperor, who was in the distant capital, was completely at a loss for what expression to show.
Although the Emperor felt satisfied with Huo Ling's conduct that made things easier, he was also overwhelmed by the impeachment reports against Huo Ling. He had to clean up the mess caused by Huo Ling's actions.
As for whether Huo Ling's conduct or his own decrees came first, it was not worth bothering about.
After dealing with the trivial matters, the Emperor had someone send provisions and money to Yanchi County. He also sent a message to Huo Ling, "I hope that when you return, there won't be much change from when you left the capital, at least don't let the Ministry of Rites have to make a new Crown Prince's robe for you."
The Emperor, far away and towering high, was very remote from Huo Ling. Nevertheless, when the Emperor was busy, but did not forget to send a message to him, Huo Ling truly felt "fatherly love."
Fatherly love was as hefty as a mountain.
Despite enduring all the hard work for so long, achieving so many things that the people praised, his father not only did not praise him, but even complained about his weight gain? Huo Ling was very upset. He looked at the eunuch who delivered the Emperor's message, and when the eunuch was puzzled after not receiving his reward, he coldly dismissed him.
After sending the person away, Huo Ling vented his frustration about the weight on his stomach for a long time. Even when Ye Xiao came to see him and frowned upon seeing him clutching his stomach and leaning back in the chair, Huo Ling not only did not sit up straight but even rolled his eyes at Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao: "..."
Before Ye Xiao, who suddenly turned cold, could speak, Huo Ling got up first. Standing on tiptoe, he directly grabbed Ye Xiao's collar. "Are you still my cousin? You actually went to Father to complain!"
"Ye Xiao, you've gone too far!"
"Why would you betray a sworn brother instead of standing by him through thick and thin?"
Huoling hated the idea of punching Ye Xiao, but his anger did not consume his reason. He knew he couldn't beat Ye Xiao and had enough self-awareness to realize that he was merely standing on moral high ground and accusing the other party.
Although he wasn't sure if he could make Ye Xiao ashamed, Huoling felt satisfied as long as he could achieve that.
Huoling could easily find satisfaction, but Ye Xiao wasn't ready to let him have even that much.
Since the moment Huoling grabbed his collar, Ye Xiao had anticipated everything. However, the way Huoling seemed to be accusing him of being disloyal made Ye Xiao unable to control a twitch of his mouth.
Struggling to control his expression, Ye Xiao silently listened to Huoling's accusation. He raised his hand to grasp Huoling's wrist, forcing him to release his grip on Ye Xiao's collar.
Freed from Huoling's restraint, Ye Xiao straightened his collar that had been messed up by Huoling and replied, "Your Highness, I did not file a complaint."
"No?" Huoling, still angry, became even more furious upon hearing this. "If you didn't file a complaint, then why does my father know so much?" He knew about everything, even things he shouldn't know.
Ye Xiao's expression remained unchanged, and even his voice sounded perfectly calm. "I speak the truth."
It was the truth, so it wasn't a complaint.
Thinking along the lines of the logic provided by Ye Xiao, Huoling couldn't help but acknowledge the soundness of his reasoning. It reminded him of the times when he had left others speechless in the past.
So, was this his comeuppance?
The next moment, Huoling shook his head vigorously, pushing away the thoughts that shouldn't have appeared in the first place. Along with those thoughts, his desire to confront Ye Xiao gradually faded away.
Well, it wasn't a big deal anyway.
Huoling, who didn't feel at all that he had backed down, mumbled a few words about Ye Xiao's dishonest behavior and, rather nonchalantly, changed the subject, "Do you have something to discuss?"
Ye Xiao remained calm, showing no sign of alarm about Huoling's actions to dismiss the palace attendants in the future or about Huoling feeling aggrieved due to feeling betrayed. After straightening the creases on his sleeve, he picked up where Huoling left off, "I came to ask for your opinion regarding the victory celebration."