Having said this, he slightly cupped his hands and gave Qing Xia a deep bow, saying loudly, “Young lady’s noble righteousness – having such a woman of both virtue and talent, courage and strategy join the army is Xichuan’s fortune. Yan Hui has already reported to the Great Emperor to treat the young lady with the courtesy due to a female general. From now on, Miss Xia Qing shall be Xichuan’s Nation-Protecting Female General, overseeing northern military ceremonies and sacrifices, with status equal to a Xichuan princess and enjoying first-rank salary. In the future, we two shall serve in court together – I hope General Xia Qing will provide guidance!”
The long wind suddenly whipped up. Qing Xia’s eyes were sharp and fierce as she looked coldly at Yan Hui.
“General Yan must be mistaken about who I am. I have a name and surname – I’m not the Xia Qing you speak of.” Qing Xia’s lips curved in a smile, but her eyes were ice-cold as she stared at Yan Hui, speaking in a deep voice. Yan Hui laughed heartily and said, “Having gained Third Highness’s favor, a mere Xichuan female general would naturally no longer be in the young lady’s consideration. However, the young lady’s military registration has already been filed with the Xichuan army – it’s been put down in black and white in the open. Our Great Emperor is sincere in his intentions. If openly refused, I’m afraid there might be some trouble.”
Qing Xia smiled coldly and said loudly, “I’ve always been afraid of darkness, pain, and being poor, but I’m just not afraid of trouble. The general has known me for more than a day or two – if you still don’t believe it, you’re welcome to try.”
Yan Hui was startled. He hadn’t expected that even beside Qin Zhiyan, in front of both nations’ armies and someone of his own status, she would remain so rebellious and unyielding, not dulling her edge in the slightest. In contrast, Qin Zhiyan’s smile was calm as water, as if he had long anticipated Qing Xia would respond this way. He didn’t mind at all and remained quietly silent.
After the battle between the great armies of Qin and Chu in the sandy wasteland, through the recollections of some people in Chu Li’s military headquarters and secret investigations by interested parties from various great families, the name Xia Qing spread throughout the world. As the power most hoping to see Qin and Chu turn against each other, Xichuan had put considerable effort into this matter. After successive batches of spies hidden in Southern Chu sacrificed their lives, they finally confirmed that the woman who had once served in the military headquarters under the false name Xia Qing was indeed Zhuang Qingxia, the world-destroying beauty who had caused enmity between Qi and Chu.
Upon learning this news, Yan Hui immediately became interested. This woman was actually capable enough to attract the favor of three nations’ outstanding men – what substantial benefits she could bring to Xichuan as a chess piece. Moreover, he had spent his life seeking pleasure among flowers and willows, having seen all the famous ladies and beauties of the continent. His romantic nature was known throughout the world. The sudden appearance of such a woman with special status and extraordinary charm – how could it not greatly move his heart? His previous journey to Bailian was also because he had received intelligence that Zhuang Qingxia might have appeared in Bailian Prefecture. But later, urgent court matters in Xichuan required him to rush back to the capital, which delayed things.
Two days ago, he met Shi Xing, who had escaped from Yao Pass. Though this young master had no real ability, he had two fairy-like beautiful sisters with whom Yan Hui had once had fleeting romantic affairs. Knowing the gravity of his crimes, Shi Xing ran to Yan Hui seeking help. To escape punishment, he pushed all blame onto Qing Xia, lying through his teeth that it was because Squad Leader Xia Qing had delayed the battle timing and rashly sought glory by charging the enemy formation that the breakout failed and provisions were lost.
Yan Hui was no ordinary person – he immediately recognized this as Shi Xing’s one-sided words to escape guilt. But the sudden mention of “Xia Qing” made him lose all anger. After investigation, learning that Xia Qing had joined the army together with three young men from Bailian Prefecture, and carefully analyzing her various performances after enlisting, he finally confirmed that this Xia Qing was indeed Zhuang Qingxia. So when he learned that all the escaped soldiers from Xia Qing’s squad had found refuge in Qin Zhiyan’s Yan Division, he wasn’t particularly surprised.
That day in the Xichuan main camp, golden cups never emptied and singing and dancing filled the air. Almost as a joke, the news that Xia Qing was severely wounded in an attack while serving, that Qin Zhiyan personally led the Yan Division on a hundred-li rescue mission, and then sent troops to attack White Deer Fort spread throughout the world. Sure enough, the next day, the armies of Qi and Chu, which had been observing from outside the borders, entered Xichuan territory and rushed toward White Deer Plains through the night. They were now less than a night’s journey away.
However, he hadn’t expected that the beauty who had nearly caused worldwide chaos, Zhuang Qingxia, was the same cold, fierce woman he had encountered twice before. Seeing her now standing beside Qin Zhiyan – one gentle as jade, the other coldly stunning – they truly seemed like an immortal couple, possessing an bearing that ordinary people couldn’t match.
He had seen countless beauties in his life. Those delicate, charming women would quickly let down their guard before his status and appearance, won over by his charm and temperament. But he had never encountered such a rebellious and untamed woman as Qing Xia. Standing before such a woman, he felt all his previous beauties instantly paled in comparison, becoming nothing but vulgar powder and rouge. He couldn’t help but develop intense interest. Smiling, he said, “The young lady is indeed no ordinary person. It seems our attempt to constrain the young lady with worldly shackles was shallow of us. I just wonder if the young lady can maintain this extraordinary bearing when facing Sovereign Chu Li.”
Knowing that her identity was already exposed before this fox-like man, Qing Xia no longer hid it. She smiled coldly and said, “That would be between Sovereign Chu and myself – no need for the general’s concern.”
“Haha!” Yan Hui suddenly laughed loudly, his narrow eyes slightly squinted, shooting forth brilliant light. His face had an even more bewitching radiance under the torchlight. He laughed and said, “The young lady is truly a heroine among women, speaking frankly and directly. Since this is so, I won’t disturb you further. Tomorrow at White Deer Plains, I’ll share wine and conversation with Third Highness again!”
Qin Zhiyan cupped his hands faintly, his voice low and mellow like fine wine, “General Yan, travel safely. Forgive me for not seeing you off.”
Watching the Xichuan troops gradually disappear in the distance, Qing Xia finally slowly exhaled, as tired as if she had fought a great battle.
Qin Zhiyan slightly lowered his head, looking at Qing Xia’s small face that had instantly lost its earlier ice-snow sharpness and become tired and weary. He reached out to pat her shoulder gently, saying softly, “Are you tired?”
Hearing this, Qing Xia quickly raised her head and shook it, saying, “Not tired.” Seeing Qin Zhiyan’s complexion wasn’t good, she hurriedly wrinkled her nose and said, “Qin Zhiyan, I’m cold. Let’s go back quickly.”
Qin Zhiyan nodded slightly. The Yan Division army behind them immediately opened a path, and Qing Xia and Qin Zhiyan walked shoulder to shoulder toward the main tent.
As soon as the tent curtain was lifted, a warm, fragrant air rushed toward them, full of medicinal scents. Qing Xia greedily took a breath, walked behind Qin Zhiyan to help him remove his heavy cloak, placed it on the nearby clothes rack, then washed a clean, warm white face towel and handed it over.
Qin Zhiyan smiled faintly as he accepted it and wiped his face. Suddenly seeing Qing Xia half-kneeling before the bed to remove his boots, he couldn’t help but pause.
Seeing him pull his feet back slightly, Qing Xia smiled knowingly, grabbed his leg with one hand, removed his snow-white boots, and replaced them with soft-soled silk shoes for indoor use. She looked up with a smile, her eyes squinted into two crescents, showing white teeth as she said, “What are you afraid of? Qin Zhiyan’s feet don’t smell.”
Qin Zhiyan laughed freely, took Qing Xia’s hand, pulled her up to sit on the bed beside him, and said with a smile, “Mischievous.”
Qing Xia felt warm inside. She really loved the way Qin Zhiyan smiled when calling her mischievous – gentle and warm, like a clear June sky without a trace of gloom. She smiled even more brilliantly, the joy in her eyes spreading like the ocean across her small face, radiating genuine happiness.
Speaking of it, this was only their third meeting, and their time together hadn’t even totaled a month. But somehow, it felt as if they had known each other for a long time. Every gesture was in perfect harmony, and each smile or frown touched the depths of the other’s heart.
Qing Xia didn’t know what was wrong with her – as if enchanted, she stared straight at Qin Zhiyan and couldn’t look away.
Qin Zhiyan’s eyes were bright like stars. Qing Xia could clearly see her own face reflected in his eyes – that thin, pointed girl gradually moving closer to herself, carrying a gentle, clear fragrance. Qin Zhiyan’s gaze was so gentle it could drown Qing Xia in that pool of early spring lake water. All around was quiet – outside the tent were cool moonlight and the desolate, magnificent frontier melodies; inside the tent were the crackling of fire and curling smoke. Qing Xia sat leaning against Qin Zhiyan’s side, tilting her head to look at his increasingly close face, at his bright eyes and gentle features. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe. The faint fritillaria medicinal fragrance surrounded her entirely – that was Qin Zhiyan’s scent, gentle and warm, with a hint of bitterness but more of gentle mellowness. Unlike Yan Hui’s pungent fragrance or Chu Li’s cold sharpness, it was uniquely Qin Zhiyan’s noble, soothing bearing that made every pore relax with clouds-light, leisurely comfort.
Almost forgetting she should close her eyes, her lips were covered by warm touch. At first, it was just gentle contact, careful exploration, and then, seeing the owner of those lips didn’t dodge, he began nibbling and turning, tenderly lingering. Qin Zhiyan’s hand curved around Qing Xia’s waist while the other cupped the back of her head. Qing Xia leaned in his embrace as Qin Zhiyan’s kisses fell on her brows, eyes, nose tip, cheeks, and behind her ears – gentle and soft like dragonflies touching a lake surface, leaving the fragrance of fritillaria on her face before finally returning to linger on Qing Xia’s lips. Almost without any defense, he parted her lips and teeth, entwining with her tongue.
Everything seemed so unreal, like walking on clouds. Qin Zhiyan’s kiss was like clear spring water, carrying pleasant medicinal fragrance. Qing Xia seemed stunned – this was an experience she’d never had before. So this was what it felt like to kiss someone she liked. No nausea, no weariness, no mental calculation of action timing – just foolishly opening her eyes wide like an inexperienced maiden, naively allowing the other to gather her sweetness.