Chapter 123 – It Must Be That You’ve Explained It The Wrong Way.
Although he was pushed against the wall by Yan HeQing, it didn’t hurt at all; because when Xiao YuAn’s back hit the wall, Yan HeQing also reached out to protect him. However, their current position made it difficult for Xiao YuAn to breath right.

Yan HeQing grabbed Xiao YuAn’s wrists with both hands and pressed them against the wall. Leaning very close to him, blocking every possible way where Xiao YuAn could try to escape, and forcing one leg between Xiao YuAn’s legs. It was clear that Yan HeQing, as a wounded man, was the weakest between the two of them. However, this current situation gave Xiao YuAn the impression that he was at the mercy of Yan HeQing.

When he saw that Xiao YuAn didn’t answer him after some time passed, Yan HeQing seemed to be anxious; as he released one hand and pinched Xiao YuAn’s chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing him to look straight into his eyes: “You didn’t get married, did you?”

“I….” Xiao YuAn looked into those clear and desperate eyes, then sighed: “Yes, I didn’t get married.”

After he heard this answer, Yan HeQing’s chest began to rise and fall violently. The silver moonlight fell into his deep eyes; his eyebrows and eyes were clearly showing the ecstasy he was currently feeling.

Xiao YuAn’s heart thudded, after seeing that Yan HeQing had withdrawn the hand that was pinching his chin. Xiao YuAn quickly grasped Yan HeQing’s wrist and pulled it close to him: “Yan HeQin! It’s true that Lin Shenling and I aren’t husband and wife, and you also must have heard that even though Lin Shenling has nothing to do with me, she already has a sweetheart. So you can’t… you can’t break that happy couple!”

Yan HeQing seemed to be in a good mood, and at first, Xiao YuAn couldn’t tell whether his smile was due to anger or for some other reason. Yan HeQing took advantage of Xiao YuAn pulling his wrist close to him and pressed Xiao YuAn back against the wall. His right leg separated Xiao YuAn’s legs even further than before, resulting in Xiao YuAn unable to stand firm: “Why would I want to separate that couple?”

Xiao YuAn stuttered and said: “Wh-when you were on the mountain, you told her….”

Yan HeQing suddenly leaned over Xiao YuAn’s ear and interrupted his words without hesitation. His voice was calm and shallow, but his breath was scorching hot: “Weren’t you pretending to be that Guniang? Am I right? Guniang.”

When Yan HeQing said the last ‘Guniang’, the word was said so slowly and gently that it almost provoqued Xiao YuAn to have a heart attack.

‘Yan HeQing knows?! He actually knew that I lied to him?! When did he find out? Just now, he even said Guniang so playfully too! Before, Yan HeQing just wanted to castrate me, but now I’m afraid that he’s thinking of ten other great torture methods to inflict on me at once!’

However, right now he was in Taoyuan Village, and Yan HeQing was still wounded. Without any close ally by his side, Xiao YuAn felt like it was more likely that he could torment Yan HeQing instead.

Xiao YuAn took a deep breath: “So you already know, that’s good. Let’s settle the old and new grudges. Yan HeQing, I know you hate me, and I’m not afraid anymore, but-…”

Yan HeQing interrupted him again, sounding surprised: “When did I ever say that I hated you?”

Xiao YuAn thought to himself: ‘You’re still playing word games to ridicule me, even at this time. Of course you never said such things, but wasn’t your attitude clearly showing just that? I willingly saved you by acting as the bad guy several times, and now you’re mocking me for doing it again. Even though you’re the Male Lead, you’re also an asshole. However, this cannon fodder also has a temper!’

Xiao YuAn slapped Yan HeQing’s shoulder and pushed him away. He looked straight into Yan HeQing’s eyes without any fear, and his mouth curled up in a sneer: “Yan HeQing, don’t speak bullshit. This isn’t the Imperial Palace of the Northern Kingdom, nor is it the territory of your Southern Yan Kingdom. If you really want to speak, then I will not necessarily lose. You can hate me for once being the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, you can hate me for pretending to be a woman on the mountain to deceive you, but I-….”

Before he could finish his speech, Yan HeQing suddenly spoke. At the same time, the last quarter moon slowly disappeared into the thick fog and thin clouds, dimming the surroundings. Xiao YuAn couldn’t see Yan HeQing’s facial expression for a moment, but his voice came out very clearly: “Xiao YuAn, I have never regarded you as the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, and I have never hated you.”

Xiao YuAn was completely stunned, frozen in place. They both stood in the dark courtyard staring at each other. At first, Xiao YuAn shook his head strangely, as if he was thinking whether he had just heard him wrong. But when he looked up at Yan HeQing again, he stared at his pair of ink-like eyes for a long time, trying to see any false intent, sarcasm, false feelings… but he couldn’t see any of that.

“You… you don’t hate me?” Xiao YuAn hesitated to ask him that. As if right the next second, he would hear Yan HeQing’s cold voice saying; ‘You actually believed it. You’re so stupid’, or something of the sort.

“Xiao YuAn.” Yan HeQing finally got a little bit carried away, almost gritting his teeth trying to refrain himself: “What made you think that I hated you? How could I hate you?”

“If you don’t hate me, then why did you order someone to castrate me?!” Xiao YuAn shouted out incredulously.

Yan HeQing’s face suddenly revealed a shocked expression. As he opened his mouth slightly, the astonishment in his eyes were unabashedly revealed in his voice: “You… what did you say?”

‘Yan HeQing didn’t know? So, it wasn’t Yan HeQing’s order?! But who else besides Yan HeQing, would have a reason to humiliate me like that?’

Xiao YuAn remembered the events of that day in detail, and combined it with the original plot. Suddenly, the face of a man flashed inside his mind.

‘Xue Yan?’

‘Could’ve it been Xue Yan?’

‘But why would Xue Yan go to such lengths just to separate me from Yan HeQing? Was it even that necessary?’

While Xiao YuAn was still feeling very puzzled, Yan HeQing suddenly stepped forward and held his shoulders with both hands, asking him with urgency: “Who tried to castrate you? What the hell happened?”