Embers

When they met for the first time more than ten years later, Shao Huanyu had already begun to show his old age, but Fu Yan hadn't changed at all, sitting there drinking tea slowly, just like before.

"Long time no see, brother."

Shao Huanyu let out a "huh" and looked at him fixedly, his eyes were no longer the timid and clear eyes he used to be. Now he has the majesty of a long-standing high position from head to toe.

"A Yan seems to be a little different."

He said in a low voice.

Fu Yan smiled lightly, noncommittal.

Fu Yan knew it even if he didn't tell him.In the past, he faced the ensuing pain and despair alone, but now someone stood behind him, even if he was crushed, he would be held in his arms, and the person gradually softened.

"All these years, you have been staying in the Demon Cult?"

"It was the leader of the Demon Cult who took me in, otherwise I would have nowhere to go."

Shao Huanyu stared into his eyes: "Ayan, did you come to me because of the Devil's Cult?"

Fu Yan also admitted frankly: "Yes."

"why?"

"Because," Fu Yan thought about his words, "The leader, Yu Jin, is... a very important person to me."

Where he couldn't see, Shao Huanyu's fist silently tightened: "Is it important?"

"Yes, he took me in, even helped me suppress my anger, gave me food and clothing, and never took any money." Fu Yan said very truthfully.

Shao Huanyu frowned slightly: "You can solve these things even when you go back to the palace."

Fu Yan sighed lowly: "Brother Huang, he can no longer hinder you for too long."

Shao Huanyu looked at him calmly.

"His health is getting worse and worse, and he probably won't live for three to five years. Even if he wants to encircle and suppress the Demon Cult, can he wait for him to die? And based on what I know about him, he has never thought about fighting with the court." What's the conflict."

Fu Yan's voice was low and soft, like a sigh.

Shao Huanyu twitched the corner of his mouth: "You are thinking of him."

Fu Yan took a sip of tea: "It can be regarded as repaying his favor."

Shao Huanyu pressed the teacup on the table forbearance: "What if I don't agree?"

Fu Yan paused.

"Ayan, you should know how I got here all these years in order to defend this country. Now that the power of the Demon Cult is almost catching up with the imperial court, do you know how big a hidden danger this is?"

Fu Yan lowered his head slightly, unable to see the expression on his face: "So, does the Demon Cult have to attack?"

"must."

"That's right, I made things difficult for others." Fu Yan wasn't depressed at all, and suddenly raised his chin, and slightly raised the corners of his mouth in his direction, "Then, Brother Huang, can you spare his life?"

Shao Huanyu pondered for a long time, leaned forward slightly, stared at him and said, "Yes, but Ah Yan has to promise me one condition."

Fu Yan leaned back slightly, stroked his forehead, and smiled: "Okay, I'll go back."

"You know what I'm going to say."

"I have nothing but myself, what else can Brother Huang get from me?"

Shao Huanyu laughed a few times, but he couldn't hear any joy, but instead had a deep pain: "For him, you don't even want your freedom? Is he that important?"

Fu Yan waved his hand lazily: "It has nothing to do with him, it's just my own wish."

"But not willingly."

"Since you know it, why do you have to do it?"

Shao Huanyu spoke slowly: "At least there is still the possibility of waiting for him to be willing if he stays by my side."

Fu Yan mocked lightly: "Brother Huang, you are becoming more and more like your father."

Shao Huanyu ignored this, and instead said: "These years, I miss you day and night, but I dare not come to see you in person."

Fu Yan heaved a sigh of relief and did not speak.

Shao Huanyu put his hand on his: "This is your own decision."

Fu Yan didn't struggle.

At night, Ember was about to go to bed after taking a shower, when there was a sudden knock on the door.

Li Mei walked over to open the door, and saw Fu Yan's face with inexplicable emotions.

"this late……"

"I want to see Ember."

Fu Yan interrupted him directly.

Li Mei paused and looked behind her.After hearing this, Ember had already got up from the bed, put on a coat and walked to the front of Li Mei, looking down at Fu Yan.

"how?"

Fu Yan stretched out one hand to hook his neck, tiptoed slightly, put his lips close to his ear, and said softly, "Can you spend with me tonight?"

The posture was very ambiguous, Li Mei watched from the side, didn't say anything, and didn't show any superfluous expressions.He is used to it.

Feeling the coldness of his fingertips, Ember frowned and glanced at Li Mei.

Understanding the meaning of his glance, Li Mei paused for a moment, then said with a smile: "Go to bed early."

Ember nodded slightly, without saying anything, strode out, followed closely by Fu Yan.

Li Mei stood at the door for a long time, until the cold evening wind came into the room before slowly closing the door.

The two quilts on the bed were supposed to be for two people.

With a wry smile, he folded one of them and put it away.

Under the dim light, the faces of both of them were somewhat blurred.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

Ember frowned slightly: "Let's go?"

"Yes, go back to the palace."

Ember paused: "You want to go back to the palace?"

Fu Yan sighed softly: "Yes, Brother Huang said he misses me very much."

The embers did not catch up.

Fu Yan leaned into his arms and put his ear close to his chest, but he didn't hear any change in his heartbeat, so he couldn't help asking: "Are you really willing to part with me?"

Ember didn't say anything, and didn't move.

Fu Yan took a deep breath, and said softly: "Tonight, I just want you to accompany me, that's all."

Only then did Ember let out a "hmm", lay down with her arms around him, stretched out her hands and pulled the quilt to cover the two of them.

Fu Yan hesitated for a while, then raised his head, leaned over and touched his lips lightly with his lips.

This is the first kiss between the two.

It is clear that he has done more intimate things than this, but this small action can still make his heart stop.It always seems that as long as this is done, there will be a subtle change in the relationship.

Ember slightly opened her eyes, looking at him steadily.

Fu Yan wanted to raise the corner of his mouth, but in the end he didn't.Where the embers couldn't see, his fingers tightened the sheet.

"I'm sleepy, go to sleep."

This night, nothing happened between them.The body temperature from his side continued to flow, and Fu Yan closed his eyes motionless, but he didn't feel sleepy at all.

It was a severe pain enough to pierce into the flesh and tear out the heart.

He was conscious of despair.

Early the next morning, a low-key carriage appeared at the door of the Devil's Cult. Shao Huanyu sat in it in private clothes, opened the curtain with a smile on his face, and looked at Fu Yan who was coming slowly.

Ember didn't come to see him off, he still had a lot to do.

Until he got in the car, Fu Yan didn't look back at the place where he had lived for more than ten years.

"Let's go."

Shao Huanyu sat next to him and stared at his face with burning eyes.

Fu Yan tilted his head in his direction, with a faint smile.

"Ayan."

"Ah."

With that said, Fu Yan leaned gently on his body.

"Master, the man has left."

Ember nodded slightly, and told people to go down, her knuckles were lightly clasped on the table, a flash of suspicion flashed by.

Why did he leave at this moment?

Slightly hasty footsteps came in from outside the door, Ember raised her eyes, Li Mei was walking in frowning, with a slight anxiety between her brows: "Something has happened!"

Ember looked at him.

"The imperial court has already started to take action. Look at this," a stack of notices was handed to Ember. "In short, they are looking for various reasons to punish us. Ten restaurants, one brothel and three inns have been shut down."

Ember glanced over those words with heavy eyes, without saying a word.

"There is one more thing. These days, the various sub-rudders are not very peaceful. It seems that there will be a change, but they can't grasp what the problem is."

"Nineteen also needs to go and see."

Ember let out a "hmm", her expression was unpredictable, she didn't know what she was thinking.

Li Mei paused, and said: "Mo Yuan is already solving the restaurant matter, but it seems that he can't solve it. The problem is very serious. I have a hunch that soon the imperial court will find a reason to formally encircle us."

Ember calmly put a stack of papers on the table without saying anything.

He suddenly understood why Fu Yan left.

A tired look flashed across his eyes.