Chapter 70: Encirclement

Yu Hualiang cursed under his breath, unsure whether he should say anything at all! This Seventh Prince was simply... How was a virgin like Yu Hualiang supposed to handle such a situation!

He hastily pulled his hand back, so startled he couldn’t utter a word. The Seventh Prince, seizing his daze, pressed him back onto the bed with a wicked grin. “Ziliang, what do you say? What should we do?”

“This kind of thing... I really can’t help with it!” Yu Hualiang stammered in panic.

Just as he tried to escape, the Seventh Prince suddenly leaned over and embraced him, clinging like a sticky plaster, impossible to shake off.

“If Ziliang can’t help... then what should Zicheng do?” he whispered softly into his ear. “Ziliang... please, help me.”

“I... I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Yu Hualiang wanted to refuse, but then he saw the Seventh Prince’s tear-bright eyes and relented. “Well... I’ll just use my hand.”

The moment the words left his lips, Yu Hualiang’s face flushed as red as an apple. He wasn’t even sure what he was saying anymore, only that he was too mortified to face anyone.

The Seventh Prince, delighted, guided Yu Hualiang’s hand toward himself and urged in a strained voice, “Then, Ziliang, hurry.”

“Huh?” Yu Hualiang was mortified, but with the Seventh Prince clasping his hand, he could only follow along.

From the look on the Seventh Prince’s face, he seemed to be enjoying it... Yu Hualiang couldn’t help but blurt out, “Does it... feel good?”

The Seventh Prince nodded, his cheeks tinged red. “Mmm.”

Seeing him like that, Yu Hualiang was surprised to feel something stir within himself as well...

Damn it...

The Seventh Prince looked far too attractive in this moment. Scared by his own thoughts, Yu Hualiang quickly yanked his hand away, only to inadvertently hurt the prince.

Worried by the Seventh Prince’s pained expression, Yu Hualiang blurted, “Sorry, sorry, are you all right?”

The Seventh Prince gritted his teeth, wincing, “It’s nothing... Ziliang, what’s wrong?”

Asked about his reaction, Yu Hualiang was struck dumb. How could he explain? But the Seventh Prince seemed to understand, reaching toward him as well—and sure enough... The prince’s smile made Yu Hualiang’s skin crawl.

Pushing his hand away in a rush, Yu Hualiang protested, “I’ll do it myself! There’s no need to trouble Zicheng!”

But the Seventh Prince only laughed, pushing him back down. “How could that do? Let me help you, Ziliang. But remember, we’re in a military camp... you have to be quiet.”

“No! Really, there’s no need! Mu Zicheng, stop!”

In the end, the Seventh Prince “helped” Yu Hualiang so much that he couldn’t get out of bed the next day.

Yu Hualiang lay on his stomach, close to tears—so this was what it was like to be on the receiving end! It hurt like hell! He never wanted to see the Seventh Prince again.

The prince, full of energy, left early. Yu Hualiang, dazed and exhausted, slept till noon before waking. The Seventh Prince, feeling sorry for him, especially ordered chicken soup to be made.

When the Seventh Prince entered, Yu Hualiang turned away, refusing even to look at him. The prince could only smile wryly at the sight.

He sat by the bed. “I’m sorry... I went too far last night.”

Yu Hualiang ignored him. He’d begged for mercy so many times last night, it had felt like a brush with death. The Seventh Prince, seeing his sulking, coaxed, “Ziliang, have some soup. Don’t be angry. I know I was wrong.”

He set the soup on the table and reached out to touch Yu Hualiang. “Ziliang, I promise there won’t be a next time.”

But at the word “next time,” Yu Hualiang flared up. “You still want a next time? I’m telling you, Mu Zicheng, there will be no next time!”

The Seventh Prince smiled, helping him sit up. “Alright, alright, as long as you’re well, I’ll do whatever you say. Come on, have some soup.”

Seeing the prince’s earnest attitude—and feeling a bit hungry—Yu Hualiang accepted. The Seventh Prince wanted to feed him spoonful by spoonful, but Yu Hualiang refused; it felt like he was being cared for in confinement.

He knew he wasn’t that precious, so he snatched the bowl. “I’ll do it myself.”

The Seventh Prince, now obedient in all things, handed him the bowl and spoon with a smile, watching intently as Yu Hualiang drank.

The prince’s gaze made Yu Hualiang self-conscious. With his back aching, he tried to turn away. “Zicheng... look over there. Don’t look at me.”

“Why?”

“Just do it!”

At that, the Seventh Prince complied, and Yu Hualiang couldn’t help but feel they were like a pair of newlyweds. The thought made him want to die from embarrassment.

He was racking his brain for a way to dispel the awkwardness when someone came to report.

After responding, the Seventh Prince turned back to Yu Hualiang, his eyes impossibly soft, sending shivers down Yu Hualiang’s spine.

“Ziliang, I have to go.”

Yu Hualiang nodded vigorously. “Mm, mm.”

The Seventh Prince suddenly leaned in, startling Yu Hualiang, who clutched the blanket tightly. But the prince only kissed his cheek before leaving like a hero. Yu Hualiang realized—it was time for battle.

He crawled from bed and peeked out of the tent, watching the Seventh Prince don his armor and crimson cloak. In that moment, Yu Hualiang thought the prince truly looked every inch a hero.

Later, Yu Hualiang slapped himself. Why was he thinking such sappy thoughts? Though he now counted as the “bottom,” he reminded himself sternly that he was a real man and couldn’t indulge in such sentimentality.

Yet, a part of him wanted to fight alongside the Seventh Prince, to go into battle together.

But then he remembered they were invading another country, and his conscience prickled. What glory was there in conquest?

With the Seventh Prince away, Yu Hualiang’s thoughts spiraled. The more he thought, the smaller and more powerless he felt, a pawn of fate in an age where one’s destiny was not one’s own. No wonder so many aspired to be emperor.

But did becoming emperor really mean controlling one’s fate? In the end... he mused that communism was better.

Half-asleep, he dozed off again. When he awoke, the Seventh Prince was already sitting at his bedside.

Yu Hualiang rubbed his eyes. “Zicheng, you’re back. How did it go?”

“Naturally, we were victorious. And you, Ziliang? Did you rest well?” the prince asked with a smile.

Yu Hualiang nodded and sat up, giving the prince a once-over. “You do look imposing in that armor, but I didn’t get to see your glory on the battlefield.”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” the Seventh Prince replied. “Let’s not talk about that now. Tonight, the camp will move north. We’ll depart tomorrow.”

“Huh? Why?” Yu Hualiang asked, curious.

The Seventh Prince smiled faintly. “Ziliang, remember not to inquire about matters within the camp.”

“Oh, right.” Yu Hualiang understood that, in the camp, he was an outsider; asking too much could get him labeled a spy.

For the sake of his life, it was best to remain ignorant.

After dinner, the Seventh Prince left for a meeting. Yu Hualiang went out to find a latrine, but a soldier pointed him toward a small grove instead.

To be honest, Yu Hualiang didn’t want to go, but nature called. He slung a hoe over his shoulder—here, if you wanted to use the toilet, you had to dig your own pit and cover it yourself.

What a life. Just as he started digging, someone suddenly jumped out behind him, nearly scaring the life out of him.

It was Cao Zhileng. Yu Hualiang was anxious—this was the Seventh Prince’s camp; wasn’t he afraid of being caught?

Cao Zhileng was about to speak when Yu Hualiang, embarrassed, said, “Wait a minute—don’t go anywhere, don’t come closer. I need to use the toilet first.”

Cao Zhileng, awkward, waited for him. When he was finished, he led Yu Hualiang deeper into the woods. Yu Hualiang asked in a low voice, “Why did you come? Are you not afraid for your life?”

Cao Zhileng frowned. “I heard you were leaving tonight. I came to say goodbye.”

“What? Who told you? I’m leaving tomorrow. By the way, did you find your family?” Yu Hualiang asked with concern.

A look of apology crossed Cao Zhileng’s face. “Sorry. Other than my brother, I have no family.”

“No need to apologize. This is the Seventh Prince’s army, be careful not to get caught.”

“I will.” Cao Zhileng added, “Take care of yourself.”

Yu Hualiang felt a warmth in his heart. “I will. Go quickly.”

Watching Cao Zhileng leave, Yu Hualiang knew it was probably their final farewell, but somehow he felt they would meet again.

Perhaps this is what it meant to value friendship.

That night, Yu Hualiang couldn’t sleep at all—the noise of the moving camp was overwhelming. The Seventh Prince held him and patted his back gently. “Go to sleep, Ziliang.”

“Mm...”

The Prince woke early as usual, but Yu Hualiang did too, having not slept a wink. At dawn, the tent was taken down, and the Seventh Prince told him to wait in the carriage while he rode ahead, leading a few hundred men, with more following behind. Yu Hualiang only knew they were moving north, not how far.

After half a day on the road, Yu Hualiang peered out from the carriage as they passed through a narrow forested gorge. Dark clouds suddenly blotted out the sun, and a sense of foreboding gripped him.

His instincts were right. It was an ambush—enemy soldiers, at least several thousand strong, descended upon them, while the Seventh Prince had only a few hundred.

The Seventh Prince leapt onto Yu Hualiang’s carriage, seized the reins, and led his men in retreat. But they couldn’t outrun their pursuers. In no time, the ground was littered with the dead and wounded.

Behind them, the enemy shouted, “Quick, capture the one in the red cloak—that’s a great general of Mu! Ten thousand in gold to the one who brings back his head!”

The shout spurred the enemy on like wolves after prey. Yu Hualiang had never experienced real war—the clash of weapons, the screams of the dying, the stench of blood.

In that moment, Yu Hualiang was truly terrified. If he were caught, he’d be torn to pieces. His mind went blank.

Who knew how long the horror lasted before the slaughter ceased. The Seventh Prince came to check on him and found him curled in a ball.

The prince’s heart ached as he pulled Yu Hualiang into his arms. “I’m sorry for frightening you.”

Yu Hualiang, coming back to himself, forced out, “I’m fine...”

Only after getting out of the carriage did he see the devastation: soldiers who had been full of life now gravely wounded, some blinded, others with severed limbs, all slumped against trees, eyes hollow as they waited for death.

The air reeked of blood. In just minutes, everything had changed—this was the cruelty of war. Tears glimmered in Yu Hualiang’s eyes.

He overheard soldiers muttering, “Look at him, crying from fright!”

Another, his leg bloodied, grunted, “Hmph! If it weren’t for protecting him, would the Seventh Prince have fallen into this ambush?”

Yu Hualiang’s heart tightened as the soldier continued, “Everyone knows he’s the prince’s male favorite. They say beauties bring disaster—looks like this pretty boy is a curse too!”

“People like him should be killed before they bring any more ruin to the prince!”

Hearing these words, Yu Hualiang realized— the Seventh Prince had chosen to stay behind with a small unit to protect him. Did he never consider there might be an ambush here?

Just as guilt overwhelmed him, the Seventh Prince drew his sword, his presence terrible as a wrathful god, and without a word, beheaded the two soldiers who had slandered Yu Hualiang.

It was the first time Yu Hualiang had ever witnessed a killing; his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground. The Seventh Prince glanced coldly at the severed heads and declared, “Rumor-mongers—execute! Our army was ambushed because there is a traitor in our midst who revealed my movements! If I catch him, I’ll have him torn apart by five horses!”

As the Seventh Prince finished speaking, Yu Hualiang’s heart thundered as if struck by lightning.