Huo Liuxing had deliberated carefully before making this decision.

The journey from Bianjing to Hexi was far and distant. Shen Lingzhen was not like Huo Shuyi—she didn’t know martial arts, and didn’t even have the slightest knowledge of basic horsemanship. Following the army would inevitably encounter many troubles, whether for her or for the troops.

But he truly could not feel at ease leaving her alone in Bianjing, so in the end he made a compromise arrangement—having Huo Shuyi lead a batch of rapid march troops to depart first, while he led the follow-up cavalry units and infantry main force to catch up.

With the infantry bringing up the rear, the pressure on marching speed would be lightened. Moreover, since this was still Daqi’s territory, he could arrange for Shen Lingzhen to take a carriage on the official roads, maintaining synchronized movement with his army traveling the wild paths.

This way, even though he was with the army, he could grasp her movements at any time, not beyond his reach.

Shen Lingzhen was naturally willing a thousand times over, just inevitably a bit worried: “Will this distract young master?”

Huo Liuxing scraped her nose: “This bit of distraction given to you—I’m willing.”

——

Shen Lingzhen quickly packed her baggage, taking Jianjia and Jingmo with her, and departed westward at the same time as Huo Liuxing’s army. Although one traveled the wild paths and one the official roads, their directions were aligned, which provided some comfort that different paths would ultimately converge.

Moreover, because the army occasionally needed to turn onto the official roads for supplies, Shen Lingzhen could sometimes meet Huo Liuxing’s eyes from afar across thousands of troops and horses.

In places far from the war zone, the choice of marching routes was relatively flexible. Without delaying the journey, Huo Liuxing tried to maintain a distance within twenty miles of Shen Lingzhen’s carriage.

Shen Lingzhen also held three firework flares that could be used to contact him in emergency situations.

The two remained on edge at all times because of that poem, but for several days in succession, aside from often needing to sleep in the carriage, which left Shen Lingzhen somewhat fatigued, everything was calm.

It wasn’t until the evening of the seventh day when they reached the vicinity of Luoyang that torrential rain fell, blocking the army’s advance.

When the clouds rolled at the horizon, Shen Lingzhen’s carriage happened to be passing by the relay station outside Luoyang City. Jingmo made a decisive decision, reported their identity to the station officials, and sent her inside to take temporary shelter.

Before this campaign, Huo Liuxing had already been officially invested with his title. Upon hearing this was a female family member of the Grand General’s household, and moreover from Duke Yingguo’s mansion, the officials worked tirelessly to arrange a room, practically turning the relay station upside down.

Luoyang was Daqi’s Western Capital, a prosperous and wealthy place. The facilities and conditions of this relay station were naturally superior to ordinary ones. After seven consecutive days of sleeping rough, entering the comfortable room, Shen Lingzhen suddenly felt she had come back to life.

However, at precisely this moment, a heaven-splitting, earth-shattering lightning bolt suddenly came from the sky, immediately followed by pouring rain.

She asked Jianjia, who was laying out bedding, with trepidation: “With this rain, young master probably can’t march either, right? Where will the army go to shelter from the rain?”

“The young master is accustomed to reading the weather. He surely already ordered everyone to set up camp nearby.”

Shen Lingzhen nodded, standing by the window looking at the dark sky outside, still not very reassured: “In this damp and cold weather, young master’s legs are probably uncomfortable again. It would be good if we could bring him to the relay station.”

As soon as her words fell, she saw a group of officials carrying umbrellas running past the window. Judging by how eagerly they scurried about in anxious haste, it exceeded what they had shown when Jingmo reported her identity earlier.

Shen Lingzhen’s heart stirred slightly, sensing something. Sure enough, after a short while, she saw the officials welcoming Huo Liuxing, clad in black armor, walking into the courtyard.

Her eyes brightened. She immediately wanted to open the door to go out, but in the next instant saw several soldiers following behind Huo Liuxing.

Shen Lingzhen couldn’t rashly show herself, so she could only peek at them through the door crack.

Huo Liuxing personally led a horse, telling the relay station officials he wanted to feed the horse some hay.

The soldiers behind him quickly reached out, looking like they would take over the horse’s reins.

Kongqing, dressed in soldier’s garb, slapped this hand away: “Have some awareness—the general always personally feeds his own horse.”

That soldier nodded deferentially, reverently watching Huo Liuxing walk deeper inside.

Watching him look straight ahead with a serious expression, Shen Lingzhen’s heart began pounding. She immediately closed the door tightly and instead opened the latch on the back window.

Jianjia understood the situation at a glance and immediately slipped out the side door.

Secret waves surged in Shen Lingzhen’s heart. She paced back and forth in the room with lowered eyes until she heard footsteps from the back window, then suddenly turned her head.

Huo Liuxing flipped himself inside in one motion, set down his sword, and from afar looked at her, smiling as he opened his arms to her.

Shen Lingzhen trotted over and rushed into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist.

His body had undried rain stains. Up close, it was the scent of iron armor mixed with a trace of muddy earthiness—actually not pleasant to smell.

But Shen Lingzhen breathed deeply, saying in a low voice: “I missed young master so much.”

This obedient and sweet phrase made Huo Liuxing forget about dirtying her clothes. With both hands he embraced her, rubbing back and forth, then lowered his head to kiss her forehead, eyes, and nose tip.

Shen Lingzhen actively tilted her head up to facilitate his movements, while raising her hand to touch his face that had sprouted prickly stubble.

When the kiss finally landed on her lips, both their breathing quickened. Shen Lingzhen felt stirred, recalling the sounds from the night they consummated their marriage. Her cheeks grew hotter and hotter. In the gap when their lips separated, she spoke to divert attention: “Young master… are young master’s legs alright?”

Huo Liuxing paused, touching her nose tip, asking with amusement: “Which ones are you asking about?”

“Both of them, of course.”

“The two you’re asking about are fine. The knee joints are a bit sore, but I can bear it.”

Shen Lingzhen tilted her head looking at him: “What do you mean the two I’m asking about are fine—does young master have other legs?”

Huo Liuxing lowered his head to continue kissing her, saying vaguely: “Yes… didn’t you use it a few days ago? That one is a bit hard to bear right now.”

“Oh my…” After a moment of stunned confusion, Shen Lingzhen reacted. She wanted to say how could he use such a shameful metaphor, but was blocked by him and couldn’t speak. By the time he released her, she was already dizzy and had forgotten to scold him.

Huo Liuxing looked down at her flushed cheeks and sighed: “I need to go back first.”

Having people know the Grand General was here secretly meeting his tender wife would be too unseemly.

Shen Lingzhen puffed her cheeks and nodded.

“Have some hot dishes and hot soup, bathe and rest early. Tomorrow morning you’ll still have to continue the journey.” After giving his instructions, Huo Liuxing forcefully suppressed the restlessness in his heart, restored his stern expression, picked up his sword, and quietly left through the back window.

Shen Lingzhen crept to the door crack again, watching him leave the relay station surrounded by a group of officials and soldiers.

After he disappeared from view, a soldier lagging behind quietly discussed with his companion: “How did the general’s mouth get swollen from feeding a horse?”

Kongqing slapped his head in exasperation: “Earlier you had no awareness, now your eyes are sharp—do you want to be sent to the front as a scout?”

That soldier immediately fell silent.

Shen Lingzhen pursed her lips and covered her face.

——

Early the next morning, the great army departed again.

Shen Lingzhen followed closely behind, heading northwest.

The weather in early spring alternated between cold and hot. Along the way, several more rainstorms fell in succession, constantly interrupting the army’s progress. Fortunately, with both Huo Qi and Meng Qufei commanding the front lines together, the flames of war remained controlled in the Hexi area and did not spread southward.

After about twenty days like this, Shen Lingzhen finally followed Huo Liuxing back to the Huo family’s “home base”—the Dingbian Army. Just like the summer two years ago, under Jingmo’s arrangements, she again moved into an inn in White Leopard City.

However, she had thought that after one night, she would continue forward with the army. Early the next morning, she heard Jingmo say that Huo Liuxing had already led the troops to garrison in White Leopard City last night—they temporarily didn’t need to go north.

“Isn’t the front line at Hexi? Why did the reinforcements suddenly stop?” Shen Lingzhen asked strangely.

Jingmo’s eyes blinked unnaturally as he nodded: “Miss Huo’s rapid march troops have already joined forces with the master and Young Master Meng at Hexi. Currently the front line situation is not urgent… so, so the young master plans to rest and reorganize at the Dingbian Army.”

Seeing his not-quite-fluent manner, Shen Lingzhen grew suspicious: “If young master came to the Dingbian Army to rest and reorganize, why didn’t he come to the inn to see me last night?”

Jingmo looked embarrassed: “This… Young Madam, military intelligence is confidential. This humble person is not at liberty to disclose it to you.”

With his phrase “military intelligence is confidential,” Shen Lingzhen made a slight connection and understood.

Huo Liuxing naturally went wherever he was needed. His current garrison in White Leopard City indicated the battle line would very likely be pulled to the Dingbian Army.

He wasn’t resting and reorganizing, but rather preparing for battle.

However, this kind of thing wasn’t particularly serious—why hide it from her?

Shen Lingzhen felt vaguely uneasy. She waited from early morning until evening, and only when Jianjia said Huo Liuxing had come to the inn did she breathe a great sigh of relief.

But just as she opened the door to greet him, she saw him ascending the wooden stairs with a solemn expression, his entire body emanating a murderous aura.

Her heart inexplicably beat rapidly. She hurried forward: “Young master, has something happened?”

Huo Liuxing walked before her, paused in silence, and said: “Yinyin, if I have to kill Xue Jie, will you blame me?”

Shen Lingzhen was stunned.

“The news wasn’t confirmed before, so I never told you. The late Emperor didn’t spare Xue Jie. After he reached Qianzhou, assassins were sent to strike at him. The Xiqiang people rescued both him and your aunt.”

“So…” Shen Lingzhen looked at him with flickering eyes. “So Brother A’Jie…”

“He turned traitor.”

Shen Lingzhen instinctively shook her head: “That can’t be…”

“The reason I’m staying here is because I received intelligence from the front lines that a Xiqiang military force bypassed Hexi, broke through the border defenses, and killed their way into the Dingbian Army’s Shentang Fort. The Xiqiang don’t have this capability—only someone familiar with Daqi’s terrain and topography, who understands the border defenses, could accomplish this.”

“Yinyin, that army was led by Xue Jie. No matter what difficulties he faces, he has truly and indeed killed Daqi’s common people and soldiers.”