Marrying a Disabled General and be His Wife

One hundred thousand taels were a lot, it was also gold.

Thinking about Tan Chuyan, he felt that the person who put a price on the head was crazy. There was a lot of things he could do with one hundred thousand taels of gold. Recruiting soldiers, buying food for the stables, and repairing the horse roads all seemed more meaningful than paying for a head.

“Who is the person?”

Tan Chuyan asked.

Then, he interrupted Yan Lie before he could speak: “Forget it; we’ll talk about this later. I’ll go in first to see the two noble guests.”

Yan Lie’s words were stuck in his throat, and the face behind the mask suppressed a laugh.

He consciously made way for the person in front of him and joked, “Who can be more noble than our Young Master Yan?”

Although Tan Chuyan was born into the royal family, he never felt like a member of the royal family. His daily treatment was not as good as the dogs raised in the queen’s palace.

“These nobles are nothing,” Yan Lie sneered disdainfully. “In my opinion, you are more valuable.”

“It doesn’t matter how valuable you are. Sooner or later, everyone has to go see the King of Hell,” Tan Chuyan looked back.

He glanced at him and said softly, “I live just to make a living for myself.”

After these words, he walked quickly into the living room.

It was cold, and a heavy curtain hung on the hall door. Yan Changfeng lifted the curtain for him with a good sense.

When Tan Chuyan stepped in, Yan Changfeng glanced at Yan Lie: “Sir, won’t you go in?”

“Why should I go in?” Yan Lie leaned against the wall and said casually.

“Am I going in to robs people from them?”

‘If a murderer like you goes in and robs people, no one will survive. Everyone knows that if the master of Purity Sect draws his sword, blood will splash three feet.’

Yan Changfeng fell silent on the spot and turned to prepare today’s medicinal soup for Tan Chuyan. It was expected that no one would dare to intrude if this man was here.

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Inside the room, an incense was lingering, Chu Qingyi and Chu Yiling were sitting in separate place, with the boundaries between them clearly d’rawn.

When the two of them saw Tan Chuyan coming in, they paid homage one after another and kept their status as low as possible to show their sincerity.

“Young Master Yan…” Chu Yiling spoke first but was directly interrupted by Tan Chuyan.

Tan Chuyan bowed respectfully to the two of them and said bluntly, “I understand your purpose in coming, but please return. I have no plans to become an official for the time being.” He had to say this; only a fool would choose a leader when facing two people, risking instant resentment.

Although he might face resentment in the future, he was already prepared for that time.

Seeing Chu Yan’s decisive refusal, the two of them had no intention of lingering. After all, being born in the royal family, they understood the intricacies of court politics.

Chu Qingyi and Chu Yiling exchanged glances and saw the same calculation in each other’s eyes: since it was a temporary decision, they would continue to pay their visits as long as the other party wasn’t around.

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Although they hadn’t sought this audience, they were delighted to meet the world-famous Young Master Yan.

Young Master Yan’s reputation had spread five years ago when Ling-han Pavilion became a leading intelligence agency.

Ever since Young Master Yan had taken over Ling-han Pavilion, the organization had expanded rapidly, annexing countless intelligence agencies, both large and small, and achieving substantial growth.

While publicly, Ling-han Pavilion appeared as a trading house conducting auctions and business, only insiders knew its true identity as an intelligence agency.

While Ling-han Pavilion might not have absolute control over all major global events, it had a substantial influence around the world.

By receiving assistance from Young Master Yan, they might not gain full clarity on the world affairs but would have early awareness and the ability to make preparations.

Hence, the moment the news spread that Young Master Yan was visiting the Jing Kingdom for visit, the Jing Kingdom’s princes were quick to emerge from their hiding, as if they were snakes coming out of hibernation.

As for those who couldn’t show their faces… they remained hidden.

For instance, the seventh prince Chu Yilian had yet to make an appearance, and he dared not. He was living as if in a year-long seclusion in the palace, knowing that if he attracted the ire of others, he had no escape and would be reduced to a victim.

Chu Qingyi and Chu Yiling were different. One was a legitimate princess, and the other a powerful prince enjoying favor with his mother. Both sought to vie for the crown prince position.

As for the fifth prince Chu Yiheng… it appeared that he had his own plans, and he wasn’t so insistent.

Interestingly, the person who had placed a bounty on his head was Chu Yiheng.

Tan Chuyan contemplated this.

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The two of them chatted with Tan Chuyan for a while, but they noticed he was coughing, so they understood they shouldn’t disturb him any longer.

Everyone was aware of Young Master Yan’s fragile health. He spent 360 out of the 365 days a year recovering in seclusion and avoided any visitors.

If one hoped to see him at Ling-han Pavilion, even catching a glimpse from a distance was as challenging as scaling the sky.

“Young Master Yan, please take more rest,” Chu Yiling bid farewell, “I won’t trouble you any further. I’ll have someone bring supplements from the palace for the Young Master later. They are all gifts from Northern Sai.”

With that, Chu Yiling left, waving the folding fan in his hand. He didn’t go far and stopped at the door to eavesdrop on what was happening inside.

Observing that Chu Qingyi had something to say, Tan Chuyan leaned on the armrest and spoke lazily, “If the princess also intends to send supplements, there’s no need. I have no shortage of such things.”

“I’m aware that you don’t need them, sir,” Chu Qingyi replied, “Sending these common items would be like underestimating the young master. I simply want to let the young master know that I will continue to visit him every day until he is impressed.”

Chu Yiling, who was outside the room, suddenly paled when he heard this change in tone. Did Chu Qingyi just indirectly call his gifts a ‘common thing’?

Chu Yiling snorted in disdain, waved his jade fan, and departed in a huff. He feared he might lose his temper.

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Inside the room, Tan Chuyan’s eyes subtly lifted, a glint of amusement escaping as he chuckled, “Princess, you are raising my status. How could a commoner like me be worthy of your daily visits?”

“You are worthy,” Chu Qingyi said firmly. “Young Master Yan deserves the utmost respect.”

Not only had Young Master Yan elevated Ling-han Pavilion to prominence, but he was also a knowledgeable counselor who could offer valuable advice and wield significant influence.

As a woman, Chu Qingyi had faced numerous obstacles in participating in the crown prince succession. Even though King Jing had consented to the matter, opposition from senior court ministers remained relentless. They sought to use traditional principles to sideline her and restrict her participation to a male-dominated arena.

Chu Qingyi refused to be deterred. The more they tried to exclude her from the crown prince contention, the more resolute she became. She wanted to demonstrate that a woman could rise to the position of a ruler.

The hurdles in her path meant that she needed Young Master Yan more than anyone else. She required someone who could provide guidance and help her navigate the opposition.

Nonetheless, she wasn’t entirely confident about securing Mr. Yan’s assistance. After all, she was a woman, and the benefits of supporting a princess were far less than those of supporting a prince. Additionally, the fear of backlash from those who are threatened by her could be a significant obstacle.

Young Master Yan wasn’t just a counselor; he was also a shrewd businessman. How could a businessman not consider his own interests?

Chu Qingyi was determined not to give up until the outcome was certain. She thought to herself.

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As Chu Qingyi left the room, Tan Chuyan experienced a severe fit of coughing at his desk, as if he were attempting to dislodge his lungs from his throat.

He was genuinely unwell. The winters in the Jing Kingdom were excessively harsh. He had nearly perished before his wedding, and his body remained somewhat fragile, requiring medication.

Due to the relentless coughing, tears welled up in his eyes. When the discomfort seemed suffocating, a gentle hand pressed against his back, aiding his breathing.

“You’re as feeble as ever, unable to care for yourself.” Yan Lie scolded Tan Chuyan while patting his back.

Regaining some composure, Tan Chuyan gently pushed Yan Lie away. He wiped away the traces of moisture from the corners of his eyes, and the Silver Moon Dagger slipped from his sleeve, pressing against Yan Lie’s chest.

“Although I may be too weak but I am still more than capable of killing you.”

Yan Changfeng, who had come in with the medicine, nearly dropped the bowl in his hand.

Did his young master just say he wanted to kill Yan Lie?

Can anyone even think of killing this person?!

Observing the knife tip against Yan Lie’s chest, Yan Changfeng began to relax. He detected no signs of murderous intent.

Instead, it appeared to be a playful exchange between acquaintances, for some inexplicable reason. The word “playing” came to his mind, and it seemed fitting.

Yan Lie delicately picked up the Silver Moon Dagger with his fingertips and examined it. “Your dagger is as exquisite as you are.” he remarked.

“I think you’re itching for a beating.” Tan Chuyan sheathed the dagger and signaled to Yan Changfeng to set down the medicine and leave the room first.

Yan Changfeng, who had mingled in the crowd for many years, had become astute. He noticed the exceptionally close relationship between Tan Chuyan and Yan Lie, so he refrained from saying anything he shouldn’t.

He placed the medicine bowl on the table and discreetly left the room, offering a knowing wink.

Staring at the medicine in front of him, Tan Chuyan furrowed his brows but then picked it up and downed it in one gulp.

He didn’t relish the bitterness, but he couldn’t skip the medication he needed to take.

Yan Lie watched as Tan Chuyan drank the medicine through his veil, moved his buttocks closer, and sat down side by side.

“When will you take off the veil? Let me see.”

“Then you’ll have to remove this terrifying thing first,” Tan Chuyan set aside the medicine bowl, patted the cold-textured mask on his face, and pushed Yan Lie away with a firm hand.

“Sit a little farther; your scent is overwhelming me.”

In everything, there was a balance between too much and just right. In the past, Yan Lie had carried a subtle pine scent, which was quite pleasant. Today, it was a flowery fragrance assaulting his senses, giving him a headache. As for the scent of blood, that was Tan Chuyan’s own issue.

“It’s fine,” Yan Lie complied, sitting down across from Tan Chuyan and discontinuing his teasing. He placed the scroll on the table. “Guess who hired me to purchase your life.”

“Fifth Highness Chu Yi Heng.” Tan Chuyan guessed.

“I didn’t expect that there would be times when even Young Master Yan couldn’t guess correctly.” Yan Lie chuckled.

“I am a human being, not a god. Why bother trying to be omniscient like a deity? If you’re using this as an excuse to taunt me, I can help you calculate the date of your demise. That calculation might still be accurate.” Tan Chuyan glanced at him; his eyes moist, devoid of any real threat.

“Let’s leave the discussion of violent deaths aside,” Yan Lie returned to the matter at hand, stating with a hint of disdain, “The person who purchased your life from me wasn’t Chu Yiheng. His simple mind couldn’t conceive of such a scheme. It was the queen, Baili Ronghua.”

How could it be her?

Tan Chuyan frowned, and with a raised foot, he escorted the fragrant Yan Lie out. He made sure to instruct Yan Lie to summon Yan Changfeng in.

It could be said that people were put to their best use.