Chapter Fifteen: Yang Guozhong's Further Demands

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Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, Yang Xi hurriedly stood up and respectfully bowed to Yang Yuhuan, who had approached him. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gracious gift. I am deeply grateful!”

Yang Yuhuan smiled warmly as she stood before him, her eyes lingering on his handsome face before breaking into a radiant smile. “Fourth Brother, I always thought of you as still a child, but I never imagined you were already leading troops as a marshal in battle. It truly surprises me. Auntie now presents you with this talisman, hoping it will forever keep you safe!”

A delicate, intoxicating fragrance wafted into Yang Xi’s nostrils. He could not tell whether it was from her perfume or her natural scent. Before he could discern, Yang Yuhuan raised her hand to place the talisman around his neck, bending slightly to do so. Yang Xi also lowered his head, unable to resist gazing at the noble consort standing before him.

His eyes fell upon the creamy expanse of her bosom—waves of ample softness that stirred a silent admiration within him. “A tempestuous sea,” he mused silently.

Yang Yuhuan’s figure was full and rounded, fitting the old saying “plump like Yang, slender like Yan,” though strictly speaking, she was not fat, just gracefully voluptuous. Her waist was slim for her age, with no hint of heaviness. The fullness came entirely from her chest, where deep cleavage lay before him, “easily able to hold a whole palm,” Yang Xi thought again.

So close was he that her revealing palace gown exposed most of her bosom, and he could see the delicate veins coursing just beneath the supple skin. Her breasts trembled subtly as her hands moved, the garment’s neckline shifting naturally, revealing the tender pinkness of a bud at the summit—an unexpected sight, the delicate, rosy hue reminiscent of a young maiden’s.

It was utterly captivating.

Seizing the moment while Yang Yuhuan’s hands veiled the gazes of Li Longji and Yang Guozhong, Yang Xi stole a lingering look. The alluring sight was right before him, and the intoxicating scent of a woman’s body filled his senses, awakening an unmistakably masculine reaction in an instant. Chiding himself inwardly for his lack of restraint, he quickly calmed his mind and withdrew his gaze from her chest.

When Yang Yuhuan finished fastening the talisman, Yang Xi stepped back and bowed once more with reverence. “Thank you, noble consort, for bestowing this talisman upon me. I shall wear it always, and I trust Your Majesty’s blessing will protect me forever.”

He lifted his eyes to meet hers again, offering a smile whose meaning even he could not quite grasp.

At that moment, Yang Yuhuan was also staring intently at Yang Xi. Their eyes met and held, shielded from the view of Li Longji and Yang Guozhong. Yang Xi did not shy away but met her gaze steadily until, startled by the intensity of his somewhat commanding look, Yang Yuhuan averted her eyes. He then lowered his gaze and moved aside, examining the gift she had given him.

Only then did he realize that the talisman was a pendant resembling a qilin or lion, exquisitely crafted, imbued with a faint feminine fragrance. Perhaps it was something Yang Yuhuan always wore herself. Yang Xi wondered why she would give him such a personal item.

After noting his unusual stare, Yang Yuhuan’s bright smile faded momentarily before she quickly recovered and spoke with a gentle smile: “Fourth Brother, this is an item I have worn for many years. It is imbued with a spirit that has always safeguarded my peace. Now that you lead troops on the battlefield, I hope it will bring you good fortune as well. You must treasure it dearly.”

Hearing her words, Yang Xi bowed again. “Thank you for this precious gift, noble consort. I am truly grateful. I will cherish it and never let it be lost.”

Yang Yuhuan said no more and straightened her posture as she returned to Li Longji’s side, sitting once again.

Though only a brief moment had passed, Yang Xi’s mind had been filled with many thoughts.

In front of Li Longji, Yang Yuhuan’s favor toward Yang Xi was clear, and Yang Guozhong breathed a long sigh of relief. Seizing the moment, he immediately spoke, “Your Majesty, today I wish to seek another favor for Fourth Brother. I hope Your Majesty will agree.”

“Oh? Guozhong, what else do you wish to ask for Fourth Brother?” Li Longji asked, somewhat surprised.

Yang Guozhong rose and bowed before answering, “Your Majesty, there are many loyal followers of Chen Xuanli still stationed at Tongguan, along with some generals who have long harbored enmity with me. I fear they may refuse to obey Fourth Brother’s command during future battles and may act against orders. Fourth Brother is young and inexperienced; there will always be dissenters. I propose that generals like Fan Zhicheng, Ye Qing, and Fan Chao—those unwilling to submit to Fourth Brother—be recalled to the capital. I hope that during training and combat, all soldiers at Tongguan can unite wholeheartedly against the enemy without the divisive influence of men like Chen Xuanli, who act selfishly and jeopardize the greater good.”

Fan Zhicheng, Ye Qing, and Fan Chao were generals who had accompanied Chen Xuanli to reinforce Tongguan.

“Hmm! Guozhong’s words are reasonable. I approve,” Li Longji replied without hesitation.

Seeing Li Longji agree so readily, Yang Guozhong beamed and pressed further, “Your Majesty, I also ask that you grant me a few more requests: First, whatever Tongguan’s troops need, the court should do its best to provide promptly. No department should delay for any reason, so as not to hinder the war effort. If Fourth Brother finds any general unsuitable or unwilling to obey him, I hope Your Majesty will recall them immediately rather than ignore the matter for other reasons. Your Majesty, I ask this solely for the sake of Tongguan’s peace, to prevent internal discord from fracturing the army’s unity during battle, which might otherwise lead to the loss of Tongguan.”

Hearing his father’s requests, Yang Xi was stunned speechless. Though the words sounded noble, he understood perfectly well that his father intended to use his son’s appointment at Tongguan to suppress some generals and curry favor with others, thereby expanding Yang Guozhong’s own influence within the military. Should Li Longji agree, any dissenter could be swiftly recalled to Chang’an, leaving only trusted men under the command of the young deputy marshal. In effect, Yang Guozhong would control the entire force through his son.

Moreover, Yang Guozhong wished for Li Longji to ensure that all supplies for Tongguan were delivered without delay, anticipating that many would soon find themselves at odds with him.

“My own father’s appetite is truly insatiable,” Yang Xi reflected bitterly, uncertain whether Li Longji would consent to these demands.