“Your Uncle Zhong has had a difficult time lately.”

Xie Yanlai declined Chu Zhao’s invitation to talk inside the tent and sat directly on the ground.

“The King of Western Liang has been attacking like a madman, and among the five routes of generals at the border army, not everyone is so obedient. Each has their thoughts.”

He glanced at Chu Zhao with a half-smile.

“This Uncle Zhong of yours falls far short compared to your father.”

Chu Zhao sat down beside him and nodded: “I know. Uncle Zhong was, after all, my father’s deputy commander. His position certainly can’t compare to my father’s, and he took over in haste. But give him some time, and his abilities won’t be inferior to my father’s.”

In her previous life, Uncle Zhong had also taken over in a rush, yet he not only defeated Western Liang but also held his own against the Xie family.

Of course, there was also Xiao Xun supporting Uncle Zhong in the Empress’s name.

However, that support wasn’t meant to secure Uncle Zhong’s position, but to consume him, using him as a sword to slash in all directions. Whether it was the Dragon Might Army or the border forces left by her father, they were divided and taken away. In the end, Uncle Zhong found himself surrounded by enemies and died in the chaos of battle.

Seeing the girl lower her eyelids, Xie Yanlai thought for a moment and decided not to say such unpleasant things. Just as this thought flashed through his mind, Chu Zhao raised her head and smiled at him.

“Besides, I specifically left you to help him, didn’t I?” she said with a grin.

So much for saying nice things, Xie Yanlai snorted: “The Xie family name is both a blessing and a curse. You don’t need to be so pleased about it.”

As a member of the Xie family stationed with the border army, many people curried favor with him to please the Xie family, but the Xie name also made many people jealous and hateful, just waiting for a chance to take a bite.

Chu Zhao smiled again: “I’m relying on you as a person, not worried about the rest.”

Xie Yanlai coldly said: “So you think with this kind-hearted person like me protecting your Uncle Zhong, you can go off without worries and perish together with someone?”

Chu Zhao laughed: “What I did was brave. You make it sound like I was seeking death.”

“If not seeking death, then what?” Xie Yanlai said. “Do you dare say you weren’t going there to die? You survived because you were brave? You survived only because the Prince of Zhongshan feared death. What if he didn’t fear death?”

He gave a cold laugh.

“If it were me, and you came alone to threaten me, I wouldn’t care about the future consequences. I would kill you first and worry about the rest later.”

Chu Zhao exclaimed: “Even when I wasn’t threatening you, you wanted to kill me.”

Xie Yanlai said irritably: “Are you going to bring up that riverside incident for the rest of your life? Keep pulling it out whenever convenient. Is that the same thing?”

Chu Zhao shook her head and said: “The Prince of Zhongshan isn’t you.”

She looked into the distance, leaning on her knees with a smile.

“A-Jiu, there aren’t many people in this world who are unafraid of death like us. They possess too much, have too many attachments. We’re different. We have nothing, just solitary courage, fearing nothing. If we die, then we die.”

“Don’t blame me for thinking this way. For people like us, if we feared death, we wouldn’t survive.”

Xie Yanlai snorted: “Don’t keep saying ‘us.’ You are you, and I am I. We’re not the same.” With that, he lay back on the ground.

Without realizing it, spring grass had already covered the ground, spreading a lush green carpet.

“Besides, I wasn’t just recklessly seeking death,” Chu Zhao counted on her fingers as she explained. “I had Xiao Man and others, their identities concealed and unknown. I also brought two routes of troops. I was already quite formidable.”

Xie Yanlai grunted without saying anything.

Chu Zhao rested her head on her hand, looking ahead and lowering her voice: “However, I am a bit surprised that this plan succeeded.”

After all, in her previous life, although the Prince of Zhongshan had died early, Xiao Xun and the Xie family fought for ten years—

Could this be considered nipping the decade-long war in the bud?

Of course, things weren’t over yet. The Prince of Zhongshan’s retreat was only temporary. Despite confiscating one hundred thousand troops, the Prince still had another hundred thousand.

Nevertheless, she had thwarted the Prince of Zhongshan and confined Xiao Xun to the capital. She had done quite well with this matter!

“I think I’m really impressive.”

Xie Yanlai, beside her, didn’t even grunt in response.

“Why do you stop talking when I mention how impressive I am?” Chu Zhao grunted, turning her head to see the young man lying with his arm under his head, eyes tightly closed—

She was startled.

“Xie—” she began to call out instinctively, then covered her mouth, watching his chest rise and fall slowly, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly.

He was asleep.

He had fallen asleep.

Chu Zhao lowered her hand, looking at the sleeping young man.

She had asked him earlier why he had come, and he said it was because the situation had stabilized, the pressure on the border army had eased, and Uncle Zhong had urged him. When she asked when he had arrived, he said he had just arrived.

The situation had only been settled recently, so he must have traveled day and night without stopping.

Earlier, he had mentioned that Uncle Zhong had been having a difficult time.

If Uncle Zhong was having a hard time, was it any easier for him?

Uncle Zhong had been with the border army for decades, and while it was challenging to sit in the position of commander-in-chief giving orders, he had people at his disposal and knew how to get things done.

What about Xie Yanlai? He was young, and even as a member of the Xie family, on the battlefield, weapons showed no favoritism to anyone’s family background.

On the battlefield, he was just himself.

Everything depended on his abilities.

Chu Zhao moved closer to him, examining his face. At first glance, it still appeared handsome, but looking carefully, it had become rougher, and there seemed to be a scratch near his temple—

What about his body?

Chu Zhao leaned in to look at his neck, reaching to gently lift his collar—

A-Le approached on tiptoe, saw this scene, and stopped in her tracks. She blinked repeatedly and whispered: “Miss, what are you doing?”

If he had any injuries, they would have been bandaged already. What was she looking for? Chu Zhao sat back awkwardly and said: “Nothing, I was just checking.”

If the miss wanted to look, she should look, thought A-Le: “Let me help you—he’s not wearing armor, so his clothes are quite easy to remove.”

Chu Zhao held back her laughter and waved her hand: “Don’t joke around. He’s asleep.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “Bring a cloak. I’ll cover him.”

Although the weather had warmed up, sleeping outdoors could still cause one to catch a cold.

…

…

When Xie Yanlai slowly opened his eyes, he saw a sky full of stars.

He was only momentarily dazed, but in that same moment, his hand had already reached to his side, his body tensing as he prepared to jump up.

He didn’t grasp any weapon at his side, and a hand pressed against him.

“Don’t be afraid. This is Zhongshan County,” a woman’s voice said softly.

Xie Yanlai instantly regained his clarity but still sat up, seeing bonfires flickering all around, the city sprawling ahead, and the familiar noise of the military camp carried by the wind.

He had fallen asleep?

When had he fallen asleep?

And he had slept for so long.

He looked down to see a thick, soft red cloak sliding from his chest, then looked up to see the girl sitting cross-legged beside him, smiling at him.

“Chu Zhao,” Xie Yanlai furrowed his brows and said, “You just let me sleep out here in the open?”

Chu Zhao helplessly spread her hands: “What could I do? I’m not strong enough to carry you into the tent.”

Xie Yanlai glared at her. Was that what he meant?

“Stop fooling around,” he said, laughing despite his annoyance. “Couldn’t you have woken me up and invited me to sleep in the tent, prepared hot water for me to wash up, provided a sumptuous meal, and a soft bed with three layers of quilts?”

He picked up the cloak in front of him and draped it over Chu Zhao’s head.

“Just giving me a cloak, with the ground as my bed—is this how you treat an important minister and loyal general? Important ministers and loyal generals will be disheartened!”

Covered by the cloak, Chu Zhao said loudly: “My dear minister, don’t be angry. This Empress will immediately order a feast to serve you!”