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Xiao's army pressed their advantage, charging straight for the Barbarians. By the time the Barbarian King arrived, Xiao Liu had already taken over the enemy camp.
The Barbarians were still in shock, wondering how their leader was still alive, when the Barbarian King was captured and forced to kneel before Xiao Liu, cursing loudly.
“Lan Xiaobao, you monster!”
Lan Xiaobao dismounted and leaned close to the Barbarian King's ear. “Barbarian King, haven't you heard? The most poisonous heart belongs to a woman.”
“You—” The Barbarian King’s eyes widened in anger, but before he could say anything further, Lan Xiaobao struck him down with a swift blow. The head rolled away, the military banner fell, and cheers erupted into the sky. They had won; the Barbarians were utterly defeated.
The soldiers surrounded him, asking how there could be two Barbarian Kings. Through the swirling dust, Lan Xiaobao met their curious gazes and explained confidently.
How could there be two Barbarian Kings? It was merely a ruse.
He was clever; having seen the Barbarian King once, he memorized his features and carved a wooden head. He hollowed it out and filled it with pig's blood, using the fake head to lure the enemy. The arrow that struck it was intentionally aimed to make it look gruesome.
As for why the Barbarian King wasn’t in the camp, during their first meeting, he had smeared a colorless and tasteless drug on his sword.
It wouldn’t be fatal, but it would become increasingly uncomfortable. Lan Xiaobao had arranged for the Barbarian King to come out of camp today under the pretense of retrieving an antidote.
“Actually, it’s not poison at all; just some itching powder.”
Lan Xiaobao grinned mischievously, while his soldiers felt their blood rush with excitement. Who would have thought that his initial clumsiness on the battlefield was just the beginning of a clever scheme? He moved cautiously yet boldly, executing a surprising counter-strategy. The thrilled soldiers lifted him high into the air; nearby warriors raised their weapons as horses neighed and swords glimmered like frost.
“Tiger Gate! Lan Xiaobao! Tiger Gate! Lan Xiaobao!”
From that moment on, the century-old glory of Tiger Gate and the Lan Family returned to him. He was no longer Lan Xiaoqing but a formidable warrior of the Lan Family who swept across battlefields with ease. As he was tossed up and down, he recalled bouncing on the dragon bed—how ridiculous that seemed now.
He looked towards the distant Xiao Liu, whose expression was dark and heavy, and his heart ached. Why must it be this way?
Xiao Liu, gazing at the spirited young man, felt fear after so many years. He had bound him for so long, yet ultimately, he would still have to let go.
On the battlefield of great victory, amidst the swirling yellow sand, the wind brushed against his cheek, scattering that tear into the blood-soaked ground.
Lan Xiaobao, after all these years, you have finally learned to be cruel to me.
Lan Xiaobao entered the tent, while Xiao Liu remained calm as water.
Just like when they were children, Lan Xiaobao found a comfortable position and nestled beside Xiao Liu.
"Are you going to leave me?"
Lan Xiaobao did not answer. He hugged Xiao Liu, burying his head in his embrace. "Brother Seven, I really like you."
He truly liked him. When he was so small, he had come to the capital with Xiao Liu, without a single relative. It was Xiao Liu who fed him, clothed him, nurturing the small, soft boy into the tall figure he was now.
As a child, Lan Xiaobao always believed he must be a priceless treasure; otherwise, how could his Brother Seven treat him so well?
But he was not a treasure; he was a boy, and boys should not be this close.
In the past, he recited poetry with the princes and particularly loved "Wu Yi": "Who says Wu Yi? With you in the same robe, when the king raises an army, I will sharpen my spear and shield to share our common enmity."
He felt that he and Brother Seven were just like that—sharing robes and sleeping together, united against their foes.
He wished he could grow up quickly. Once he grew up, he would become as formidable as his father from the Lan Family, protecting Brother Seven’s kingdom.
But aside from Brother Seven, more and more people began to dislike him. They insulted him, calling him Lan Xiaoqing. Some ministers even asked him directly if he had heard of "Cut Sleeve and Split Peach." He was confused, realizing he had made a mistake, and turned to Brother Seven for clarification. Brother Seven told him he was not at fault and apologized instead, because Brother Seven had no one else but him; he believed everything Brother Seven said.
If Brother Seven chose not to speak, he would not bring it up again. Even later, when he accidentally discovered the truth, he remained silent and continued to be the disruptive Lan Xiaoqing who caused chaos in the court.
Lan Xiaobao looked up. "Today when I went to lure the enemy, I suddenly thought, if I were to die like this, would that person be relieved?"
Xiao Liu held his trembling hands. Lan Xiaobao shook his head. "Then I thought, I can't die. If I die, he would be very sad; I can't bear to see him hurt. But if he cares for me so much, why does he always make things difficult for me?"
She loved him as much as she hated him. She knew everything but never spoke of it, allowing herself to remain in the eye of the storm, raised as a boy for sixteen years.
"Because my parents died early, no one cared for me or loved me, and no one taught me that men cannot love men—that men and women are different—"
"Stop saying that!" Xiao Liu could not bear to listen any longer. To preserve the century-old glory of the Lan Family, she had been raised as a boy since childhood. Old Master Lan had asked the emperor to take her back to the capital before his death—not seeking wealth or status, but only wishing for her lifelong safety. He took care of her well; for sixteen years, only Xiao Liu had occupied her heart.
Xiao Liu held her tightly. He did not reveal the truth because he had promised to uphold the century-long reputation of the Lan Family. He feared that if he spoke out, Lan Xiaobao would hate him; being harsh with her only made his own heart ache.
"Little Bao, stay by my side, please."
"I want to," Lan Xiaobao paused, recalling the insults and the vast harem that laughed at her so decisively. "But Your Majesty, I am a man..."
She had never called him 'Your Majesty' before; this title shattered the affection they had shared over fifteen years.
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