“What?” Qing Xia was startled. She hadn’t been gone that long – how could it have caused such a commotion? She quickly asked, “Where is Deputy Commander Xu?”

“Deputy Commander Xu followed His Majesty out of camp. He told me to wait here for you.”

“Alright, I understand.” Qing Xia turned toward the stables, but Le Song hurried forward two steps and blocked her path, saying, “His Majesty instructed that if you returned, you should wait in the main tent. I’ll send someone to notify His Majesty.”

Qing Xia paused slightly, then nodded and entered the main tent.

As soon as she lifted the curtain, fine dragon ambergris incense wafted toward her. The air held a warm temperature. Qing Xia removed her cloak and sat obediently by the brazier, propping up her chin and letting out a slow sigh.

There was still so much about Chu Li that she didn’t know.

The Xilin clan of Heng City was also one of the eight great houses, having built their fortune in the medicinal herb trade with many renowned physicians in their clan. The current family head, Xilin Yu, was a famous divine physician of the current era, standing alongside the witch doctors of the Southern Border witch medical tribe and the hermit physician Shangqiu lineage dwelling in the northern mountains as one of the three great medical sage houses of the age. The only difference was that the Xilin family served Southern Chu and was the sole medical house that engaged with the mortal world – not as mysterious as the witch medical tribe nor as secretive as the Shangqiu lineage.

Heng City bordered Pengli. It seemed that during those two months when Chu Li disappeared among Pengli’s refugees, he had become entangled with the Xilin family. Judging by Xilin Yuqiao’s behavior, she most likely harbored romantic feelings for Chu Li. This meant there was now a potential breakthrough point with one of the eight great houses.

She picked up the vermillion brush from the small table and made a mark on paper.

The Southern Border barbarian tribes had limited time left. The Zhu clan of Lingnan were friends, not enemies. There was a breakthrough opportunity with Heng City’s Xilin family. The Xihei Ludan forces were already defeated. The Shangkou Lin family had always remained neutral. The remaining Yunpo Xiao family had gradually withdrawn from Southern Chu’s power vortex due to Noble Consort Xiao’s fall from grace. The Bai family of Riguang City had always been in decline and posed no threat.

The most troublesome and urgent matter was the Li family of Liyuan’s Nanfu.

Thinking of Lady Zhu Lan, that woman approaching sixty who still knew no shame, anger flared in Qing Xia’s heart. Dealing with such venomous women had always been her specialty.

Cold air suddenly blew in from the tent entrance. Before Qing Xia could turn around, she was pulled into an icy embrace. Chu Li’s face was completely cold, only his breath still warm. He held Qing Xia’s body tightly, pressing her head firmly against his chest with such force that he seemed ready to merge her into his own body.

“Chu Li.” Qing Xia called out tentatively in a small voice, gently pushing at his waist. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought you had run away again.” His deep voice sounded above her head, carrying a trace of soft exhaustion.

In an instant, it felt like drinking a large gulp of hot soup. Qing Xia leaned in Chu Li’s embrace, listening to the fierce wind howling outside, suddenly feeling several degrees of warm spring-like comfort.

“I’m here, I won’t go anywhere.” She patted Chu Li’s cold hand soothingly. When had this stubborn man begun to depend on her so much? Or had it always been this way, only neither of them had noticed?

Snow fell during the night – this was Huan Chao Yi’s first snowfall of the year. As soon as winter arrived, the Southern Border’s exhaustion became obviously apparent. Southern Chu deployed thirty thousand troops to guard the eastern passage, cutting off Eastern Qi’s grain and military supply support to the Southern Border. The Southern Border’s provisions immediately showed gaps. Yesterday, the Southern Border people had actually dared to plunder grain that Xichuan had lent to Southern Chu, enraging the Xichuan people. Although Yan Hui strongly opposed going to war with the Southern Border people, the Xichuan Emperor disregarded Yan Hui’s opposition and forcibly dispatched two cavalry units to attack the Southern Border people’s rear flank. Working with Southern Chu’s forces in a two-pronged assault against the Southern Border barbarians, the Ludan forces were utterly defeated and fled northward.

Who would have thought that Great Qin did not open their city gates, but instead executed the Ludan leader who came to negotiate. It was said that Great Qin’s envoy was already on the way to Southern Chu. Qin Zhiyan personally guarded the border, sending word by carrier pigeon that he would absolutely not allow any Southern barbarian to enter Great Qin’s territory.

The three great powers simultaneously united against the Southern Border people – this was completely unexpected by Eastern Qi. After weighing their options, they issued documents withdrawing from Southern Chu’s civil war and sent out a manifesto declaring “those not of our race must have different hearts,” expressing their intention to stand with Southern Chu in exterminating the rebels who threatened Southern Chu’s domestic peace.

Former allies had turned their sharp claws against them in the blink of an eye. The plight of the Southern barbarians, now with nowhere to turn and leaderless, was easy to imagine. Victory was certain – it was only a matter of time.

In just one day, the situation had changed dramatically. Everyone’s attention suddenly focused on Southern Chu’s Great Emperor Chu Li, waiting to see what methods he would use to deal with the Southern Border rebels.

However, unexpectedly, Chu Li made no deployments whatsoever. He simply ordered the Northern Camp troops to await orders and dismissed the various vassal princes who had requested to fight.

Thus, the originally explosive conflict became deadlocked. Everything seemed frozen with not a sound to be heard.

Qing Xia wrapped herself in a great fur coat and walked out of the tent. Due to her insistence, Chu Li had obediently returned to rest in his main command tent. Fortunately, the man hadn’t been too insistent with her either.

Qing Xia sighed softly. This was for the best – too many entanglements wouldn’t be good for either of their futures.

It was only November, yet already so cold. Ancient winters without global warming were truly difficult to endure. She couldn’t help but think of those Southern Border people sleeping in the open on the icy Xihe grasslands. Qing Xia suddenly understood somewhat why Chu Li delayed sending troops.

Southern Chu had suffered great damage in this campaign. If they became further entangled fighting the Southern Border barbarians, they would only pay an even greater price. The Southern Border barbarians had no retreat route and had just lost their leader. In their desperate situation, they might well achieve victory through desperation. But aside from this point, Qing Xia vaguely felt that Chu Li was brewing some major move, waiting for the right moment to explode into action.

Having endured so much suffering and humiliation, Chu Li was definitely among the most patient people in this world.

Such people were like tigers – they wouldn’t move lightly, but once they struck, it would definitely be with thunderous methods, defeating the enemy with one blow, leaving absolutely no opportunity for recovery.

“Miss!” Black Guard soldiers stood watch around Qing Xia’s tent. Chu Li hadn’t restricted Qing Xia’s movements – presumably knowing that restrictions wouldn’t work anyway, he had simply been generous about it. He could openly assign guards, which was better than having her slip away unnoticed. Looking at the Black Guard soldier greeting her, Qing Xia increasingly felt that this man Chu Li was truly keeping careful tabs on her.

“Miss, the roads are dark at night. Wherever you want to go, let me carry a lantern for you.”

A very dignified excuse for following her – she couldn’t even find a reason to refuse. Qing Xia pursed her lips slightly and smiled, “As you wish.”

The Black Guard soldier’s face reddened. This was still a very young man, only eighteen or nineteen years old. Under his stern helmet, his face was pale and, in his embarrassment, actually turned slightly red.

“Let’s go.” Qing Xia smiled faintly and headed west. The young Black Guard hurriedly followed.

“Miss, if we go any further to the side, we’ll leave the camp.”

“Mm.” Qing Xia nodded, absent-mindedly responding. She soon reached the place where Lin Mubai had burned paper money earlier. She lowered her head and carefully examined the ground by the dim lamplight.

“Miss, what are you looking for?” the young Black Guard asked curiously.

“A bead this big, yellow in color.” Qing Xia made a circle with her index finger, gesturing in front of him.

“What kind of bead?” the Black Guard soldier asked. “Is it a valuable pearl?”

“I don’t know if it’s valuable,” Qing Xia shook her head. “It seems to be called a dust-avoiding bead, with a small insect inside.”

“A dust-avoiding bead?” The Black Guard soldier paused, then said, “That’s not anything valuable – you can buy them anywhere. Cleansing insects are very afraid of cold. In weather this cold, it’s probably already frozen to death.”

“Afraid of cold?” Qing Xia paused, her movements slowing down. Her shell-like teeth gently bit her lower lip as she pressed her lips together and smiled, “It doesn’t matter, just finding the bead is enough.”

The young Black Guard looked at Qing Xia’s expression, paused slightly, thought for a moment, then asked, “Is that bead very important to you, Miss?”

Qing Xia crouched on the ground, searching around the area from memory, but finally shook her head without saying another word.

“Who’s over there?” A patrol team suddenly approached. Qing Xia was startled, thinking it best not to show herself, lest word somehow reach the cautious young master of the Xilin family.

“I’ll return to my tent first. Don’t tell them I was here.” With that, she turned and melted into the shadows.

The Black Guard soldier was stunned, watching as Qing Xia disappeared agilely into the darkness, quite puzzled. But he still turned toward the group of patrolling soldiers to create an opportunity for Qing Xia to leave.

“Deputy Commander Li!” A low call suddenly came from ahead. Qing Xia’s steps faltered as she frowned in thought, then lightened her footsteps and carefully approached.

“How can you come looking for me at this time?” A familiar voice sounded again. Lady Zhu Lan’s top lackey, who had been knocked unconscious by two head butts the night before, was frowning at a soldier in ordinary military leather armor.

“The Great Elder sent me to say that if you don’t send grain soon, the Southern Border army will certainly mutiny. This can’t be delayed any longer.”

“I’m not at Liyuan right now. How can I handle such matters through others? Moreover, all the checkpoints now have Iron Guards from the main military camp standing watch. Even if our Liyuan’s Panli Army is willing to turn a blind eye, it would be very difficult to transport anything out. I’m also helpless.”

“That’s not what you said initially. The deposit has already been paid. If the Southern Border army is defeated, do you think you can stay out of it?”

“What do you mean by that?” Deputy Commander Li asked angrily.