After the wrong flirtation, I became the villain's favorite

Xiao Xuan would not know that Xie Tan once worked in the Ministry of War's Arsenal and was in charge of paperwork and archives.

There are a vast amount of documents there, including summaries of battles in past dynasties by later generations, as well as many authentic and precious military strategies and military advice.

For example, he read many valuable books, such as Yue Fei's "Wu Mu's Testament", Jiang Ziya's "Six Strategies", "Wei Liaozi" from the Warring States Period, and even "The Divine Mechanism to Defeat the Enemy" by Li Quan of the Tang Dynasty.

Of course, this also includes maps of various places.

In his spare time, he would carefully study these precious materials that are difficult for others to access.

Xie Tan never thought that the content he had read would come in handy one day.

What was even more unexpected to him was that he actually possessed a talent for leading troops in battle.

When he was on the battlefield, the military strategies he had learned on paper seemed to come alive and were naturally applied to actual combat.

Xiao Xuan naturally cherishes such talents!

Almost three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

During the long and profound time, Xie Tan relied on his own efforts and talents, and finally succeeded in becoming the most capable general around the eldest prince Xiao Xuan.

Now, in the Northern Border Army, apart from Xiao Xuan, he is the person whose words carry the most weight.

However, despite his high position, Xie Tan did not become complacent or lazy, because he knew that his goal was far more than that.

He is like an ascetic monk. He strives for perfection in swordsmanship, horse-riding techniques and military tactics. It may be that he cannot stop, because if he stops, he will start to have random thoughts.

"Your Highness, General Xiao... General Xiao is leading the troops in morning exercises in the birch forest ahead." said a subordinate standing by, looking at the deep-minded prince.

"Practice every day, without a day of rest?" Xiao Xuan said.

"Your Highness, yes."

Xiao Xuan frowned, "I'll go see him."

In the dense forest, the stream was covered with thin ice and it was very cold in winter. When Xiao Xuan walked into the forest, he saw Xie Tancai putting on his clothes. His chest muscles were clearly visible through the half-open collar. After he fastened his clothes, he looked broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, strong and capable.

It no longer has the thin appearance it once had.

There was frost on his white hair, and in the snow there was a glow on his face that did not belong to this world.

"Winter comes early in the north, why are you taking a cold shower?" Xiao Xuan leaned over and reached into the stream, "Wow, an ice bath."

Xie Tan remained noncommittal. Over the years, in many battles where they had faced life and death, the relationship between him and Xiao Xuan was no longer like that of a king and his subject, with a clear hierarchy. Instead, they were more like close friends, or close friends regardless of age difference?

Xiao Xuan always wanted to be his father-in-law.

"Young people are full of energy. How about I find you a wife?" Xiao Xuan said.

He really admired this young man Xie Tan, and giving him the surname of the emperor was not enough, he wanted to give his daughter to him.

Isn't this like we are a family?

Although my daughter is a few years older than Xie Tan, a girl who is three years older than you is still a treasure.

Unexpectedly, Xie Tan refused, saying something weird like he was born unlucky and had a bad fate.

Xiao Xuan knew that he just didn't want to be his son-in-law.

Xie Tan put on the clothes on the boulder one by one, saying as he did so: "Don't bother, Your Highness. I am fine being alone for the rest of my life."

"You've never had a woman, so how do you know that it's better for you to be alone?" Xiao Xuan sneered.

Xie Tan was stunned. Didn’t he have one before?

He once had the best girl in the world.

She is kind, courageous, beautiful, and radiant.

Later, she arrived at the place where fireworks were held, but she still did not forget to save herself.

It was his fault that he was unable to protect her.

Let her follow someone else.

Give her a chance to love someone else...

Xie Tan suddenly remembered the news from Yunjing a year ago. Xie Hanlin sued the Sixth Prince but was detained for a long time without reason, and his wife beat the drum to appeal for justice.

He couldn't describe how he felt when he heard the news.

Bitter, depressed, and heartbroken?

It seems that none of them are enough.

She had saved him, loved him, and protected him.

Now she is finally going to protect another person.

Protect the one who brought him all the misfortune.

Xiao Xuan interrupted his thoughts and asked, "What's wrong with your hair?"

Xie Tan raised his eyes to look at Xiao Xuan and said disapprovingly: "When I was a kid, I had a fever and took the wrong medicine. After I recovered, this happened."

"Is that why you haven't married yet? Are you afraid that people will laugh at you?"

Xie Tan was disappointed. He had indeed felt inferior because of his hair. But later Song Nihuan told him that it was very special and made him look more handsome.

He still remembers the uncontrollable palpitations he felt when her hands tangled in his hair.

So he doesn't think white hair is ugly.

But he didn't want to elaborate with Xiao Xuan, so he said, "Yes, Your Highness is absolutely right."

Xiao Xuan said thoughtfully, "Did you commit a crime in the Central Plains that caused you to come here?"

"Your Highness, I have never committed any crime. I am innocent. I came to the North only to gain more experience and build my career."

"You've been cheated, right? Coming to a place that no one wants to come to?" Xiao Xuan said.

"Isn't Your Highness here too? Now that Xiye Kingdom has been recovered, why is Your Highness still reluctant to return to Yunjing?" Xie Tan said.

"You're quite bold to say that." Xiao Xuan leaned against the tree, not commenting.

Xie Tan became serious, "Your Highness, have you ever thought about the future?"

Xiao Xuan said inexplicably: "In the future? In the future, it is nothing more than returning to Yunjing."

"Your Highness knows what I'm talking about." He said seriously, his eyes brightening surprisingly, "Why did Your Highness come to the North in the first place?"

Xiao Xuan didn't say anything more. He patted Xie Tan on the shoulder and said, "Let me see how you are doing with your training."

He walked to an open space, took a stance, and threw the sword in his hand to him.

"Your Highness." Xie Tan took the sword and presented it to him with both hands, "Your Highness, please."

In fact, it doesn't take much skill to be in the army, and winning a battle doesn't depend on the courage of fighting alone. But Xiao Xuan taught him everything he knew.

Xie Tan learns very quickly. If a person disregards life and death and has only one goal to achieve, how can he not learn quickly?

Xiao Xuan took the sword, and his originally indifferent expression became serious.

In fact, there is no need for a fight. Xie Tan is no longer the thin and frail young man he used to be. He is dressed in a black tight suit, tall and strong. He stands there with a stance, his eyes cold and sharp. Even though he is restraining his aura, he still has an intimidating edge.

This is the feeling of oppression that only people who have seen blood can have.

Xiao Xuan raised his eyes and saw the young man in front of him was tall and handsome, with white hair tied up high, which added to his fierceness.

Like a sword about to be unsheathed, it is about to pierce the treacherous sky of Yunjing.

No, it has already been unsheathed. It is invincible, able to cut hair with a single blow, and its cold light is intimidating.

The reputation of General Xiao Tan has spread throughout the northern border of Dazhao in recent years.

Xiao Xuan smiled, put away his sword, and said, "You are really to my taste, boy. It would be great if you were really my son."

"Your Highness is not that much older than me." Xie Tan said, "Your Highness is in the prime of his life."

"Then you can be my son-in-law, my daughter..." Xiao Xuan said unwillingly.

Before he finished speaking, Xie Tan waved his hand and said, "My fate is filled with bad luck, and I am destined to be alone."

"Don't fool me. But do you have a wife at home? Or are you engaged?"

Xiao Xuan saw a flash of disappointment in the young man's eyes.

Xie Tan seemed relieved, and finally said, "It happened before."

His voice was not loud and dissipated gently in the cold wind outside the Great Wall.

It has happened before, right?

When he was fourteen years old, he regarded her as his future wife.

But she forgot.

At that time, he didn't dare ask her to remember it, for fear that he could not protect her.

But not anymore.

He could not forget her. She was his salvation in his youth, but he lost her by accident. She was destined to become a mole in his heart and a pain in his life.

However, he didn't want to do that.

Looking at Xiao Xuan's back, Xie Tan's eyes were filled with cold determination.

After three years in the north, the northern border has been expanded a lot. The Xiye Kingdom has long been extinct, and all other small countries have been taken into its possession. Now Dazhao has become a behemoth.

Xiao Xuan had made enough military achievements, and the military power of the northern part of Dazhao, including the twenty-four important towns, was all in his hands, and there was no longer any military governor.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the area north of Dazhao belongs to Xiao Xuan.

Nanzhao is actually more attractive, but the situation of the nobles there is complicated, so it is not a good time to make a move.

The situation in Yunjing is very unstable and the emperor's health is getting worse.

It's time to go back.

He assisted Xiao Xuan, not in order to make him a tool for the future emperor on the border.