After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

The wolf-hair brush slipped from Xie Qinglan's fingers and landed with a thud on the hemp paper. The thick ink spread along the paper's grain, covering the four characters "Hexi Bian Shi" (River West Border Market), blurring into a dark blot.

"Xiao Jingyuan." He turned his head away from the kiss, his breath slightly ragged, and the corners of his eyes reddening. When he turned back to glare at him, his eyes were still moist, devoid of any intimidation, more like a reproach, "The documents aren't finished yet, don't fool around."

"I'm not making a fuss." Xiao Jingyuan buried his head in his neck and nuzzled against him, his nose brushing against the delicate skin, and said softly, "I'm asking for a reward."

"We've already kissed, let go." Xie Qinglan raised her hand and gently pushed him on the back of his shoulder. "If we delay any longer, we won't be able to leave today."

"You write yours, I'll just hold you."

Xie Qinglan couldn't refuse him, so she had no choice but to let him wrap his arms around her waist from behind, pick up the wolf-hair brush again, dip it in ink, and bend down to fill in the smudged words.

The breath of the person behind him swept past his ear, the heat seeping into his bones along his temples. His knuckles trembled slightly as he gripped the pen. The document, which should have been finished in half an hour, took him more than an hour to finally sign it.

Just as she was putting down her pen, footsteps sounded outside the tent. Xiao Zhaoyue lifted the curtain and came in, getting straight to the point: "All the generals are clamoring for a victory celebration. Since all the tribal leaders are here, let's just do it today and put the minds of the surrendered tribes at ease. You can set off later."

Xie Qinglan nodded in agreement. With the Western Rong newly pacified and people's hearts unsettled, a victory celebration banquet was indeed necessary.

In the western borderlands, the sun sets slowly. Even after late afternoon, the western sky is still ablaze with crimson clouds, bathing the entire royal camp in warm light.

The victory banquet was set up in the open space outside the royal tent. Three bonfires leaped with flames as tall as a person, and a whole lamb on an iron rack was roasted until it was shiny with oil. Drops of fat fell into the fire and sizzled, sending up tiny sparks.

The generals sat in a circle around the campfire, with leather wine bags and wooden plates in front of them. Several surrendered tribal chiefs sat at the lower level, holding hada scarves and mare's milk wine, their expressions respectful.

Upon seeing the two emerge, everyone in the room rose and bowed.

Shen Hanzhou, with the loudest voice, waved his greasy hands and shouted, "Your Majesty! Prime Minister Xie! Come here!"

Two seats covered with white fox fur had been reserved for him. Wanyan Lie sat next to him, dressed in an indigo brocade robe with gold trim. His long hair was tied back with a silver ribbon, with a few stray hairs hanging down his cheeks. His light golden eyes reflected the firelight.

Seeing the two approach, he stood up and bowed his head in the Western Rong etiquette.

"Please sit down." Xiao Jingyuan waved his hand and then grabbed Xie Qinglan's wrist, leading her to her seat.

Xie Qinglan struggled but couldn't break free. Not wanting to cause a scene in front of the generals, she could only let him hold her, a slight heat creeping up her earlobes.

The old chieftain of the Western Rong sitting next to him stroked his beard and smiled, sighing in broken Northern Shuo dialect, "Your Majesty and the Prime Minister have such a good relationship."

Xie Qinglan's ears burned even more, and she turned her face away to look at the campfire, pretending not to hear.

The generals took turns stepping forward to offer a toast.

The Northern Shuo generals saluted in accordance with their military ranks to congratulate the victory, while the Western Rong leader presented mare's milk wine in a silver bowl, his words filled with respect.

Xiao Jingyuan accepted all offers without hesitation, raising the silver bowl and drinking it all in one gulp. The wine slid down his jawline and into his collar, but he didn't seem to care.

Xie Qinglan sat to the side, knowing that today was a celebration and not wanting to spoil the mood of the army, so he just tapped the wooden plate lightly with his fingertips, frowned and watched, without saying anything to stop them.

After a few rounds of drinks, the heat from the bonfire, mixed with the aroma of alcohol, spread out, and the atmosphere became lively.

Shen Hanzhou, his face flushed from drinking, had long lost his usual fierce demeanor. He leaned against Wanyan Lie, one arm around the other's neck, his tongue slurring, "A-Yue... how... how can you be so beautiful..."

Wanyan Lie reached out and steadily supported his waist, afraid that he would fall into the fire. His light golden eyes reflected the firelight, filled with helplessness and a softness that could not be melted away.

He leaned down and whispered something in Shen Hanzhou's ear. Shen Hanzhou obediently remained quiet for a moment, buried his head in his shoulder, and mumbled, "A-Yue's body is warm," which made the general sitting next to him burst into laughter.

Hearing the laughter, Shen Hanzhou suddenly looked up, glared, and slammed his hand on the table, his hand trembling: "What are you laughing at! My wife is beautiful, and I can't even say so?"

Wanyan Lie was amused by him and smiled. He raised his hand and gently wiped the oil from the corner of his mouth with his fingertips.

As the banquet ended, the moon was high in the sky, its silvery light spilling across the ground.

The guards helped the drunken officers back to their tents. Xiao Zhaoyue escorted the two to their carriages, clasped her hands in a fist salute, and said, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Xie, please take care on your journey. With Wanyan Lie and I keeping an eye on the Western Rong, there will be no trouble. Once everything is settled, we will meet again in the capital."

Wanyan Lie, supporting the heavily intoxicated Shen Hanzhou, stood to the side and nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, please take care. Thank you for your care, Prime Minister. If there is any need in the capital, please send a message."

Xiao Jingyuan nodded in agreement and helped Xie Qinglan onto the carriage.

Three thousand light cavalrymen were already lined up and ready to go, with torches forming a long dragon along the official road, stretching eastward along the Gobi Desert.

The carriage was lined with thick fox fur cushions, and warm water and hangover soup were prepared in advance on a small table.

As soon as he sat down, Xiao Jingyuan leaned against him, hanging his whole body on his shoulder and burying his head in his neck.

"Qinglan..." he called out indistinctly, his voice hoarse and tinged with the smell of alcohol, "You smell so good."

"Your Majesty reeks of alcohol, don't get close to me." Xie Qinglan pushed him away, but not forcefully. Instead, she reached out and removed his jade crown to make him more comfortable. "Sit still, the journey is still long."

"No." Xiao Jingyuan acted spoiled, his arms wrapped tightly around his waist, refusing to let go. "I want to hold you."

Before he finished speaking, his hand reached up along his waist to unbutton the Chinese knot on his collar.

Her fingertips were clumsy; it took her a while to untie two beads, revealing a section of pale collarbone, with a small, pale red mole standing out prominently beneath it.

"Xiao Jingyuan." Xie Qinglan pressed his hand down, her ears burning. "Behave yourself."

"Restless." Xiao Jingyuan looked up at him, his eyes reddened with the smell of alcohol, his gaze wet and filled with grievance. "Qinglan, I'm in pain."

"If you feel unwell, drink some hangover soup." Xie Qinglan turned to pick up the soup bowl on the table, but his wrist was pressed down by him.

"Not here." Xiao Jingyuan pulled his hand down, his fingertips touching a hot, hard surface. Xie Qinglan recoiled as if burned, his fingertips turning pink.

"You're simply—" He bit his lip, swallowing the rest of his sentence, his ears turning bright red.

"Qinglan, help me." Xiao Jingyuan leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips, a sticky, sweet kiss with the smell of alcohol. "Just once."

Xie Qinglan was at her wits' end by his persistence, but she was also afraid that he might aggravate the old injury under his ribs if he moved too much, so she had no choice but to soften her voice and coax him: "Your Majesty, be good, there will be a reward when we return to the capital."

Xiao Jingyuan paused, his eyes lighting up: "Really? What reward? For me?"

Xie Qinglan's face flushed instantly, even her neck turned crimson.

He turned his face away, his voice squeezed out between his teeth: "Why is your mind filled with these things—"

"It's all because of you."

Xie Qinglan was suddenly stunned.

Also.

This person had lost his memory, forgetting all his past. Upon seeing him for the first time, he instinctively moved closer. When he saw him shed tears, he panicked and didn't force him. He went along with him in everything and listened to his every word. It was as if he was a thought etched into his very bones, something that even amnesia couldn't erase.

His heart softened, and he felt that giving her a little treat wouldn't hurt, so he relented: "Just one kiss."

Having received confirmation, Xiao Jingyuan immediately lowered his head and captured his lips. The kiss was urgent and intense, as if he wanted to devour him whole, until both of them were breathless before they released each other slightly, pressing their foreheads together to catch their breath.

The tenderness lasted only a moment before his hands became restless again. His fingertips slid down his side, hooked the sash, and gently untied it.

Before Xie Qinglan could stop him, he had already pulled open his moon-white robe to both sides, burying his face in the open collar.

Warm lips pressed against that pale red mole, the tip of the tongue gently swept over it, then held it in the mouth and sucked it slowly.

"You—" Xie Qinglan reached out to push his shoulder, but he pulled her into his arms with his waist wrapped around her waist, and she couldn't push him away at all.

Xiao Jingyuan buried his face in his chest, his warm breath brushing against the delicate skin, his lips pressed against the skin as he mumbled indistinctly, "It's so soft...so warm...I want to sleep here."

As she spoke, she actually closed her eyes, pressed her cheek against his chest, and her breathing gradually calmed down; she simply fell asleep.

Xie Qinglan sat stiffly for a long time, looking down at the fluffy hair on the top of her head, feeling both angry and amused. In the end, she could only sigh, gather her loose clothes to cover her slightly cool shoulders, and let him lean against her in that position as they traveled eastward in the swaying carriage.

During the day, they traveled by carriage and horses, and at night they would rest at inns along the way.

Every night, Xiao Jingyuan would revert to his old ways, insisting on sleeping in someone's arms. He seemed to find it amusing, burying his face in his chest and only feeling at peace when he had that soft flesh in his mouth.

This continued for several days.

At first, Xie Qinglan coldly rebuked him, but this man either drooped his eyes and pretended to be pitiful, or ignored her and kept coming closer, refusing to listen to either soft or hard approaches. The harder she pushed him away, the more persistent he became. Xie Qinglan couldn't resist him, so she simply let him be.

But every time she was sucked, she couldn't help but tremble all over, biting her lip and letting out some soft moans.

On the fifth night, traveling through the Gobi Desert, with nowhere to stay, they continued their journey through the night.

Xie Qinglan was awakened by the tingling sensation in her chest. When she opened her eyes, she saw that she was being held and sitting on Xiao Jingyuan's lap. The other man buried his head in her chest and used his lips and tongue to suck her lips and tongue, making smacking sounds.

Xie Qinglan bit her lip, her ears burning red, and shoved the man away angrily, saying, "Xiao Jingyuan!"

Xiao Jingyuan was pushed against the car wall, licked his lips, and looked at him with lingering desire: "Qinglan, yours is so soft."

Xie Qinglan took a deep breath, straightened his disheveled clothes, and lifted the carriage curtain to say to the commander of the personal guards outside, "Prepare the horses."

"Thank you, Prime Minister. It's getting late, and the Gobi Desert roads are difficult to travel at night—"

"Prepare the horses," Xie Qinglan repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Two fine horses were quickly led to the front of the carriage.

Xie Qinglan leaped onto her horse, flicked the reins, and galloped off. Her moon-white robes fluttered in the night wind as she plunged into the darkness without looking back.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Jingyuan immediately mounted his horse and gave chase. The two riders galloped one after the other along the Gobi Desert road.

The horse's hooves kicked up fine dust, and the wind rushed into her collar, dispelling the ambiguity and heat of the past few days. Xie Qinglan ran extremely fast, as if to leave all the embarrassment and annoyance in the carriage to the wind.

Xiao Jingyuan pursued closely, the sound of their horses' hooves overlapping, startling the night birds in the roadside bushes.

The three thousand guards behind them were dumbfounded.

"Captain, should we... give chase?" the soldier asked, scratching his head.

"Chase them!" the lieutenant roared anxiously. "If His Majesty and Prime Minister Xie get lost, we'll have plenty of heads to lose!"

The crowd hurriedly whipped their horses to give chase, but they couldn't catch up. Both men were skilled riders, and their horses were exceptionally strong, quickly leaving the guards far behind.