She slowly walked over, her complexion slightly pale. The long wind blew through her hair, creating a kind of drifting beauty. Chu Li frowned, wanting to lose his temper, but seeing her like this, he suddenly couldn’t speak.

Qing Xia dismounted and walked straight over, naturally extending her arms around Chu Li’s neck and leaning into his embrace.

The old hand who had long wandered through flowers was suddenly startled. He seemed to have grown accustomed to the woman in his arms being confrontational and coldly distant toward him. This sudden drastic change in attitude made him uncomfortable all over, at a loss for what posture to assume. The moonlight was hauntingly beautiful, the desert desolate. In the distance stretched endless white sand dunes, and behind them lay the magnificent, vast military camp with countless torches flickering brightly in the night, creating a scene full of wonderful beauty.

Yet in such an environment, holding the woman he had yearned for all these years, Chu Li found himself tongue-tied, not knowing what to say. After thinking for a long while, he suddenly asked, “Are you hungry? Shall I get you something to eat?”

Hearing this, Qing Xia burst into laughter, punched his chest playfully, turned around, and walked toward the camp.

A flash of chagrin crossed Chu Li’s face before he hurriedly called out to the guards nearby, “Prepare some food and send it to my tent.”

Qing Xia walked ahead, hearing this with a slight smile, her mood much improved. She suddenly noticed that even in front of his subordinates, Chu Li no longer referred to himself with the imperial “zhen.”

The night was thick, and the Southern Chu camp bustled with activity. All the tents quietly lifted a corner, soldiers covering their mouths as they snickered. Ever since the Southeast Grand Marshal had resumed her female identity, their Great Emperor had become less and less imperious.

Inside the large tent, warmth filled the air. Qing Xia sat on a cowhide felt, extending her hands to warm them by the brazier, her pale cheeks soon regaining some color. Chu Li followed behind and entered, glanced at Qing Xia, then sat down across from her. After thinking for a long while, he asked, “What were you doing just now?”

Without lifting her head, Qing Xia suddenly asked, “Chu Li, I heard you disbanded the harem and established an empress. Is that true?”

“It’s true,” the man replied with a calm expression, slowly saying, “My empress hasn’t stayed in the imperial palace for even half a day since her coronation. This time, I’ll drag her back and never let her escape from my side again.”

The lamplight flickered. Her eyes, like rippling water, glanced sideways at the man who was drinking tea by himself, and she smiled knowingly. Having spent so much time with the Black Guards, she had learned much through indirect inquiries. Though she had already guessed most of it, hearing it confirmed still warmed her heart. Yet she couldn’t help but provoke him: “Do you have that ability?”

“Hmph,” Chu Li snorted lightly, glancing at her sideways and curling his lips, “If you don’t believe it, you’re welcome to try.”

Qing Xia suddenly laughed aloud, her voice echoing in the tent with a crisp, happy warmth. So much time had passed, so many things in this world had changed, yet only they seemed still the same as eight years ago, bantering in Lanting Hall. Those years that had howled past seemed to have changed nothing. Everything was hazy, time was peaceful, as if it were yesterday.

Chu Li suddenly set down his teacup, walked behind Qing Xia, reached out to encircle her waist, buried his head deeply in her neck, tightened his arms to hold her close, and said in a muffled voice, “I woke up in the night wanting to check on you. When I saw you weren’t there, I thought you had quietly left again.”

Qing Xia’s body tensed, her heart aching sharply. She bit her lip lightly, grasped his hands at her waist, and slowly shook her head, saying, “I won’t.”

Chu Li nodded slightly and said, “Even if you want to leave, you must tell me. At the very least, I’ll know where to look for you.”

Light like early spring water flowed over her heart, warm and moist. Qing Xia’s expression gradually softened. She gripped the man’s hands tightly, as if comforting a child, gently calling, “Chu Li, I’m sorry.”

“Qing Xia,” Chu Li interrupted her, saying softly, “I’m very happy.”

The wind outside suddenly blew in, carrying the desert’s unique scent. Chu Li’s voice held rare tenderness as he spoke word by word slowly, “I’m truly very happy. I never imagined that someday you would willingly return to my side. I never imagined I’d have the chance to hold you like this without you hitting me. I never imagined that Qifeng Palace in the Chu Palace would see the day when its mistress would move in. Qing Xia, there are too many things I never imagined, so much so that often, I thought I must be dreaming…”

Qing Xia chuckled softly and reached out to pinch his cheek hard. Chu Li yelped in pain, and Qing Xia laughed, “Does it hurt? You’re not dreaming.”

Chu Li frowned and muttered, “I finally wanted to speak in such a tone, and you have to ruin the atmosphere?”

Qing Xia covered her mouth laughing, “Alright, I won’t ruin the atmosphere. Continue.”

Chu Li’s face darkened. After thinking for a long while, he suddenly released Qing Xia’s waist and said sullenly, “I won’t say anymore. I’m not in the mood now.”

Seeing him act like a child, Qing Xia became even happier. She knelt on the ground, turned around with a smile, “Then wait until you’re in the mood to continue.”

Chu Li sat on the felt with a dark expression, bored out of his mind, plucking at the felt’s fibers one by one without making a sound. Qing Xia picked up a pear and carefully peeled it, saying slowly as she peeled, “Chu Li, we’ve known each other for almost nine years. I spent nine years making this decision. Since I’ve made it, I won’t change it again. Fate has always tied us together. I once wanted to escape, to push you away, but after going in circles, I returned to the starting point. Recently, a young master surnamed Liang advised me to cherish the person before me. Tell me, was that person you?”

The woman’s eyes were so bright. She slowly raised her head, lifted the juicy, crystal-clear snow pear in her hand, and offered it to Chu Li, saying, “This pear—we can never eat it separately again.”

Chu Li’s handsome face gradually softened. He grabbed the snow pear from Qing Xia’s hand and bit into it with a crisp sound, sweet and fragrant.

Qing Xia naturally leaned against Chu Li’s broad chest, slowly closed her eyes, and said softly, “No matter what we face ahead, we must trust each other, never again harbor suspicion or resentment, never hide things from each other. Whatever happens, we must face it together.”

Chu Li nodded, humming hoarsely in agreement. He slowly lowered his head, gazing into Qing Xia’s eyes with a dreamy look. His warm palm gently cupped the back of her head, pulling her body up. His warm breath brushed against her face like tiny insects, making her nose itch. Chu Li’s lips were thin—they say people with such lips are fickle, but unfortunately, he wasn’t. If he truly were a fickle person, perhaps their years together would have been much easier. His fingers caressed Qing Xia’s cheek, bearing light calluses. He lowered his head to press his lips to her forehead, then moved down, brushing over her eyebrows, eyes, and nose bridge, slowly moving toward her somewhat pale lips.

The tallow lamp in the corner burned quietly. Time rushed past, transcending life and death. Years ago, in a military tent in the Nanjiang camp, they had embraced just like this, kissing tenderly. In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed, time flowing like water that never returns. Fortunately, they still had a chance to start over. Fortunately.

Qing Xia closed her eyes, her arms softly climbing up Chu Li’s neck, slightly lifting herself to meet him.

The moment their lips were about to touch, Le Song’s voice suddenly rang out from outside the tent. The oblivious man called loudly, “Your Majesty, the meal is ready!”

Chu Li frowned, angrily raised his head, glared fiercely at the entrance, then lowered his head again. But before he could touch Qing Xia’s lips, Le Song’s voice rang out again, slightly louder, “Your Majesty, are you asleep? The meal is ready!”

Chu Li shot up with a whoosh, storming out angrily.

Soon, Chu Li’s angry scolding could be heard outside, “What are you shouting about? Who told you to bring food?”

“Your Majesty, wasn’t it you who…”

“Do I have a habit of eating at this hour?”

Qing Xia sat in the tent, suddenly unable to suppress her laughter.

Early the next morning, the entire army broke camp. Qing Xia rode on horseback in full military attire, no longer concealing her female identity. Everyone packed their belongings, preparing to cross Longya Desert, but they had barely traveled half a day when they were blocked by a herd of wild horses. Qing Xia and Chu Li exchanged glances, both seeing understanding in each other’s eyes. The Northern Qin army, which had been silent for too long, was finally stirring.

The moment she saw Hua Rongyue, Qing Xia understood the meaning behind the jade pendant Jin Shaohuang had given her earlier. She wore water mink fur on top, fitted trousers and deerskin boots below, with a black sash tied high around her waist, making her figure appear even more graceful and radiating an aura of athletic agility and sharp intensity. Behind the woman fluttered a white cloak as she proudly led the charge, followed by countless fierce horse bandits—a dark mass like a huge black cloud covering the ground, numbering over a hundred thousand. If not for their lack of discipline and formation, they would be a formidable army.

This was the frontier desert’s horse bandits, who struck terror into passing merchants and regular armies alike—the most arrogant gang of bandits under heaven, even more notorious than the former White Deer Stronghold that once dominated White Deer Plains.

Hua Rongyue spurred her horse to a stop before Qing Xia and the others. Her gaze swept over Qing Xia before settling on Chu Li. She suddenly smiled, revealing white teeth, and said in a clear voice, “Taking people’s money, helping them solve problems. The Northern Qin Great Emperor requests Emperor Chu to make a trip to Helan Mountain. Please honor us with your presence, Your Majesty.”