“Join the army?”
Cao Sheng turned back in astonishment, staring at the little one. The little one looked back at him with complete sincerity, even forcefully pressing down Youtiao’er’s head, making him nod repeatedly to show his earnest intention.
“See, Young Master, think about it—being a soldier is tough, and going to battle is even scarier. If you bring us along, Youtiao’er can empty your chamber pot, and I, Zhao Rong, can block arrows for you. This befits the status of Third Young Master Cao, right?”
Baozi had changed his surname to Zhao again recently. There was no helping it—his mother loved playing identity-changing games, causing him to change surnames countless times within just one year.
“I’m going to be a soldier, not on a spring outing,” Cao Sheng said with mixed laughter and tears. “How could I possibly bring you two children? My father wouldn’t agree either.”
“But the Grand Dowager agrees,” Baozi grinned mischievously. “The Grand Dowager said that Sheng’er can go to the military camp, but he can’t be without attendants. Since women aren’t suitable for military camps, let little Rong’er go—that’s how it is.”
Staring at Baozi, Cao Sheng remained silent, though he didn’t doubt the truth of these words at all. Ever since Baozi had been brought back to the Cao residence by him, in just a few days, from the inner courtyard to the outer courtyard, from men to women, from the eighty-year-old grandmother down to eight-year-old servant girls, everyone had been completely enchanted by him as if under a spell. This fellow had a honeyed tongue and was as slippery as a carp, coaxing the Grand Dowager into constant joy. If she didn’t see him for even a moment, she would call out “Little Rong’er, little Rong’er.” Hearing that he was a child from a fallen wealthy family made her even more tearful and heartbroken with pity. She even refused the pair of stunning twin beauties he had offered, insisting on returning them to him, saying, “This poor child only has these few people left with him. How could we be shameless enough to take them? Being so young, he should have people assigned to serve him. Since he has his own servant girls and they’re probably more convenient being familiar with him, let them continue serving him.”
Well, if the people were returned, so be it. Surely the silver should be refunded? As it turned out, his young master climbed onto the Grand Dowager’s lap, threw his arms around the old lady’s neck without any reservations, and gave her a drool-filled kiss, acting coquettishly: “Mmm… Grand Dowager, you’re so kind. Grand Dowager, I love you.”
This stunned a whole room of servant girls and matrons on the spot, thinking that the always dignified old lady would surely be angry. Instead, the old lady wiped away the drool, looked at the child in her arms, and smiled.
Pinching Baozi’s apple cheeks, the Grand Dowager smiled very lovingly, holding Baozi and turning to Cao Sheng, who was attending nearby at the time: “Don’t be jealous. When you were five, you were just as endearing. Back then, you always liked to cling to me, and if pulled away, you refused to sleep…”
She continued chatting on, holding Baozi and refusing to let go, slowly reminiscing with a face full of smiles. Cao Sheng first found it amusing, then fell silent, only then remembering that with his father busy with military campaigns and himself loving to play and make trouble, his grandmother had been lonely for far too long.
From then on, Cao Sheng allowed Baozi to roam freely through the inner and outer courtyards of the Cao residence, considering it a comfort for his grandmother. Although Cao Guangshi was busy with his rebellion plans, he vaguely knew of this child’s existence, but after all, he was just a five-year-old child. No one truly took this child who had appeared out of nowhere and attached himself to the Cao family seriously.
Baozi wanted exactly that—not to be taken seriously. I’m just a little kid, childish, clueless, who only knows how to drool, bite fingers, beg for candy, and roll around on the ground when I don’t get any… Please ignore me quickly, I beg you to ignore me!!
Successfully and thoroughly ignored as he wished, Baozi knew that entering the main camp wouldn’t be easy. From the beginning, he had targeted the supreme authority of this household, taking the indirect route to salvation, finally earning the Grand Dowager’s decree. Cao Sheng had no choice but to obey.
Although Cao Sheng was reluctant in words, he was still happy to have Baozi’s company in his heart. There was no helping it—the greatest charm of the demon Baozi was that he could captivate both men and women.
The next day, Student Zhao Rong, in his capacity as a servant attending the Third Young Master, followed Cao Sheng to the military camp along with Youtiao’er. Although Cao Guangshi was strict in teaching his children, he was extremely filial to his mother, so he could only turn a blind eye.
One day after entering the camp, when the sun was high in the sky:
“Young Master, it’s time to get up!”
Baozi waved his paw, brushing away as if swatting flies, muttering, “Don’t disturb me… this ham is so good… plump… glossy… good… good…”
“…”
Cao Sheng stared wide-eyed, looking at his finger that had been pulled over and was now in a certain young master’s mouth… My finger, your ham?
Extremely angry yet amused, he suddenly felt playful. Cao Sheng pinched Baozi’s face with both hands, shaking him left and right, laughing sinisterly: “Ham? If you don’t get up, I’ll cut your meat to make ham right now!”
“Oh my mother! You’re tormenting me again!”
Before the words were finished, Baozi’s eyes suddenly snapped open, and he jumped up with a whoosh.
This startled Cao Sheng, who stared blankly at his own hands, then turned to look at Baozi’s eyes and was stunned again.
…This child was clearly just awakening from deep sleep—why did he have such alert and clear eyes?
Also, what did he say?
Baozi’s eyes darted around, already seeing Cao Sheng’s expression. He was furious inwardly: What kind of person are you learning from—my terrible mother!
His eyes rolled, and he suddenly pounced over, grabbing Cao Sheng’s sleeve and began wiping his nose on it, sobbing: “…I dreamed of my mother… she wouldn’t give me ham…”
Seeing his “runny nose and tears,” and thinking of this child’s “family destruction and death,” Cao Sheng found him quite pitiful. His heart softened, and he stopped thinking further, deliberately changing the subject with a smile: “Young Master, didn’t you say you’d serve me? What time is it now?”
“Master, this servant will attend to you immediately!” Baozi jumped off the bed, grinning obsequiously: “Would you like to undress or get dressed?”
“By the time you help me dress, I’ll have been beaten with eight hundred rods!” Cao Sheng glared at him: “We’re about to go to war. If you still want to follow me, you can’t be this lazy anymore, or I’ll kick you back.”
“Mmm… war?” Baozi widened his eyes in apparent shock: “I thought following you meant going camping outside the city.”
“We came to Pingzhou to fight. This is our inevitable path, but someone beat us to it,” Cao Sheng’s playful expression disappeared, looking somewhat sorrowfully toward the south, saying softly: “Father wishes to accomplish a great deed… somehow I always feel uneasy… but the old gentleman won’t listen…”
Baozi glanced at Cao Sheng. This sixteen-year-old youth was Cao Guangshi’s second son. Despite being born into a wealthy and noble family, he had no arrogant or domineering airs and could be considered fundamentally kind-hearted. During this time, Baozi had gotten to know him and genuinely liked him somewhat.
But… he was the enemy.
Having been here for several days now, if he still didn’t know what Cao Guangshi planned to do, Baozi would be unworthy of being Qin Chang Ge’s son. The moment Baozi learned of Cao Guangshi’s intentions, he almost flipped the table—What the hell? My family’s kingdom—I can choose not to want it, I can give it away, but you want to steal it? Go to hell!
He wanted to do something for his old man, and infiltrating the military camp should be the best method. However, hearing Cao Sheng mention that Duke Li was also here, and knowing that Duke Li had attended the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony—though they were separated by the vast distance of the great hall at the time, Baozi wasn’t sure if he had seen him clearly. In any case, for safety’s sake, Baozi had been avoiding the main tent recently.
Cao Sheng didn’t notice his expression, only worrying about his own concerns. Baozi watched him and remembered how his mother had once grabbed his face and told him very seriously: Never casually give your feelings to others, especially when the other party is likely to be your enemy.
Baozi looked up at the sky and groaned… What should I do, Mother? Why didn’t you teach me what to do when someone gives you their feelings and you’re also a little moved?
Actually, asking would be useless—Teacher Qin had no solution to this problem herself.
After thinking, Baozi still probed tentatively: “Third Young Master, the Governor loves you so much. Why don’t you… try to persuade him?”
“How can I persuade him?” Cao Sheng smiled bitterly: “This isn’t you children playing games… this is the most important, most bewitching thing in the world. Once that thought arises, not even eight horses can pull it back… Forget it, I won’t discuss these things with you. You’re just a small child—what would you understand?”
He thought for a moment, then suddenly became spirited, laughing: “Actually, I’m being too pessimistic. What kind of person is Father? My Cao family is a military household—when it comes to fighting, how many people in the world are our match? It’s just that yellow-mouthed brat getting ahead for a moment. This is actually good—the battle won’t be boring. Following Father this time, I’ll also have a chance to gain experience and maybe even achieve merit!”
His eyes rolling, Baozi immediately clapped his hands and laughed: “Third Young Master, you have so many military books in your study, and you have excellent martial arts skills. If you achieve great merit, the Governor will be so happy.”
“Mm…” The young man’s eyes were bright, full of enthusiasm: “I want to achieve great merit and make those uncles who pat my head and say I’m still a child look at me with new eyes!”
“Yes,” Baozi lazily propped his chin up lying on the bed: “I see those generals all treat you like a child. When you speak, they act like they’re barely listening.”
“Hmph!” Cao Sheng was after all youthfully spirited and immediately became indignant: “There will come a day, there will come a day when I’ll make them…”
“Isn’t this the opportunity now?” Baozi grinned while scribbling randomly on the bedsheet: “Third Young Master, I’ve heard many stories about founding heroes. Those heroes were truly remarkable—Han Changtian shocking Wei’s army with a single horse, Yu Zixi riding alone into enemy camps at night… hehe…”
He spoke casually, pretending not to see Cao Sheng’s eyes suddenly light up, then tugged at Cao Sheng’s sleeve plaintively: “Get me a cat, will you? At night, mice keep roaring at me, and I’m scared.”
“Mice roaring at you…” Cao Sheng rolled his eyes toward the sky—what kind of word choice was that?
He helplessly shook his head, called over several soldiers, and ordered them to catch a wild cat for the difficult-to-serve Servant Rong.
Catching a leopard might be difficult, but catching a cat was too easy. Before long, someone brought a stray cat to give to Baozi.
Baozi grinned as he received it, carrying the cat to bask in the sun. In a sheltered, deserted corner behind the tent, he grabbed the cat’s face, staring eye-to-eye with it seriously: “Do you want me to send you?”
“Meow.”
“I can’t understand your response,” Baozi glared at the cat: “Give me a gesture first.”
The cat raised its right paw.
“Mm…” Baozi grabbed the cat’s right paw, stared at it for a long time, then nodded.
“You’re saying you want to go.”
Sighing lazily, he said: “Fine, I know I’m as bad as my mother.”
He searched the cat all over, then looked across the river where the opposing military camp could be vaguely seen.
Just now he’d heard that Pingzhou’s main camp had undergone a lightning-fast change of command. The opposing side had issued a proclamation against rebellion throughout the realm, declaring with murderous intent and no retreat, directly naming Cao Guangshi as a rebel minister. They publicly stated they would only pursue the rebel leader’s crimes—all others who turned from disorder back to righteousness would not only be pardoned but rewarded.
The opposing side had also united with Lingzhou’s main camp, forming a pincer formation to attack Youzhou. Now Pingzhou’s army was arranged along the Chishe River at the junction of the two provinces, directly blocking Youzhou’s army, which had initially advanced like a broken bamboo, conquering several cities in succession.
It was said that the two sides had actually engaged in close combat once, and Youzhou’s army hadn’t gained any advantage. The opposing side’s tactics were flexible and cunning, unpredictable—coming like thunderstorms and leaving like flying foxes, truly impossible to handle.
It was said the opposing side’s formation was also very peculiar. Youzhou’s main camp had observed for a long time and used sand tables in the main tent to deduce for a long time, but couldn’t figure out how to arrange their formation in response.
Now within Youzhou’s army, a strange, uneasy atmosphere was subtly stirring, which was also the reason for Cao Sheng’s unusual expression. He was relatively cautious and hadn’t said too much to Baozi. However, with the cunning blood of Qin Chang Ge inherited, how could Baozi not be alert? Although Cao Sheng, born of nobility, was ten years older than him, how could he compare to this gifted child in scheming? Baozi studied his expression and roughly grasped the situation.
Baozi didn’t understand military tactics—his few days of study in the imperial study certainly wouldn’t be useful here. But his intuition told him that someone acting this boldly was probably his mother.
Since she had come, he wouldn’t waste his efforts.
Placing the cat in a bamboo basket stolen from the kitchen staff, then putting the basket in the river, Baozi patted the cat’s head: “A’Huang, the Commander of the Three Armies now orders you, in your capacity as brigade commander of the First Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, to cross the river alone to kill enemies. Don’t return without seeing Mother. Please believe that victory belongs to us, and your glorious name will be carved on the heroic monument of our motherland!”
He said tragically: “Go forth!”
“Meow!”
The cat bobbed away in the bamboo basket. Baozi clutched his heart, sighing mournfully like Xi Shi.
Before finishing his sigh, he heard mixed footsteps behind him and someone saying: “Duke, judging by today’s weather, there seems to be fog tonight. How about…”
Someone coughed lightly, and that person stopped speaking, instead saying: “Eh, there’s a child here.”
“Hey!” That person was calling: “Which family’s child are you? How did you end up here? You, come over.”
“Where do you think Rong’er might be?” In Pingzhou’s main camp tent, Qin Chang Ge carefully examined military reports continuously delivered by twelve senior scouts from the Phoenix Alliance over twelve-hour periods, while frowning and asking Chu Feihuan, who sat cross-legged nearby.
But she received no answer.
Startled, Qin Chang Ge looked up, only to see Chu Feihuan leaning against the desk in a daze. His gaze was clearly fixed on a corner of the tent, but his expression showed he wasn’t really looking at the weapon rack in that corner.
Qin Chang Ge slowly put down the military report, also frowning.
What was wrong with Feihuan?
He seemed to have been spacing out from time to time ever since leaving the capital. She had once feared he was seriously ill but unwilling to speak of it. However, after carefully taking his pulse, she found that although he hadn’t improved much recently, he hadn’t worsened either. With Xiao Jue continuously sending various rare medicines, Qin Chang Ge had been giving Feihuan barely suitable or foundational strengthening spiritual medicines. At least his spirits had improved somewhat. With a nation’s resources seeking remedies, even if his chronic illness couldn’t be completely cured, continuous efforts to extend his life were still useful.
So what could be the reason?
Qin Chang Ge carefully recalled, vaguely remembering that from the day they left Longzhang Palace and met up with Feihuan at Changshou Palace to leave the palace, Feihuan’s expression had seemed off.
The more Qin Chang Ge thought about it, the more certain she became—yes, it had started from that time.
Putting aside the military reports, she tiptoed to Chu Feihuan’s side, carefully studying his eyes, trying to explore his gaze.
Sensing someone watching him, Chu Feihuan suddenly turned his head. The moment he turned and saw it was her, his eyes showed hesitation, confusion, sadness, bewilderment…
Startled again, Qin Chang Ge could hardly believe what she saw—Feihuan was bewildered, was sad…
When seeing her, bewildered and sad…
Not the kind of sadness caused by chronic illness and tragic circumstances, but a kind of deeply personal, painful sadness born from her.
Qin Chang Ge stared at his expression, her fingertips suddenly feeling cold. Across from her, Chu Feihuan suddenly reached out, pressing her head down heavily.
He rested his chin on top of her head, extending his arms to hold her tightly in his embrace.
Unlike his usual deliberate distance and indifference, the current Chu Feihuan seemed determined to forget everything, only wanting to meld his beloved woman into his arms for tender comfort, holding her deeply in his embrace.
His elegant, detached magnolia fragrance mingled with her mint and orchid scent, lingering and entwining between their hair ends, clothes, and touching skin, wandering persistently without dispersing.
His slightly thin but warm embrace, his chin resting on her head, his tightly clasped arms—all with a deeply buried yet indescribable intensity of painful longing—seemed to want to meld her into his heart, bit by bit, applying force.
Skin touching silk-smooth hair, fingertips tracing her exquisite curves—there was a kind of beauty that was inherently bewitching. Chu Feihuan closed his eyes, feeling only desolation in his heart. He didn’t know from whose heart the great wind arose, blowing at that inextinguishable spark, making it flicker uncertainly.
Chu Feihuan’s hand rested on Qin Chang Ge’s back, at the place closest to her heart.
I will always protect you…
After initial astonishment, Qin Chang Ge suddenly felt a faint chill in her heart. This chill made her suddenly crave the warmth of the embrace before her. She remained silent, didn’t struggle, and almost submissively nestled in Chu Feihuan’s arms.
She heard him say softly above her head: “Chang Ge, please let me love you.”
…Where did the sound of tides arise? Was it the distant shores of Li Kingdom, the busy inland ports of Xiliang, or just the waves suddenly surging in the depths of her soul?
At tide’s end, heart like bright moon, born following the tide.
This moment quietly counting autumn days, by whose side are we? Whose heart’s promise have we missed until the waning moon?
After a long while, Qin Chang Ge reached out, slowly embracing Chu Feihuan in return.
She still buried her head against his chest, her long hair flowing like water over his knees. Her voice muffled and low: “Feihuan, what happened? Tell me.”
She felt the chest against her cheek stiffen slightly, then immediately return to normal.
Light flooded her eyes as Chu Feihuan had already released her.
His eyes held some deep, difficult-to-express emotions, but his expression was calm. No longer looking at Qin Chang Ge, he said flatly: “I apologize, I overstepped… The tent is stuffy. I’d like to go out for a walk.”
“I’ll accompany you,” Qin Chang Ge was stunned for a moment, then sighed silently without saying more. She first draped a cloak over him, then added a garment for herself, wheeling him slowly out of the tent.
The two walked toward the riverside. Night wind howled fiercely, billowing their garments. They stood at the riverbank, looking at the scattered starlike fires across the river, the faint figures moving about, watching the northern frontier grass growing strong and unyielding, dancing in the wind, and gazing at a crescent frost-touched cold moon, shaped like a Wu hook.
“With great battle approaching, how many heroes will be buried in earthen mounds,” Qin Chang Ge sighed deeply. “How much human blood must saturate this land before next year’s spring grass grows even more luxuriant?”
“Cao’s stubbornness, knowing it’s impossible yet doing it anyway, is also a misguided loyalty to Li Han,” Chu Feihuan’s gaze was calm. “Is it worth it?”
“Nothing in this world is really worth it or not worth it,” Qin Chang Ge looked at him meaningfully. “The final result—if one has no regrets, then it’s worth it. Don’t you think?”
Chu Feihuan turned his gaze away, impassive. But nearby, commotion arose.
“Hey, there’s a basket!”
“Hook it over, hook it over!”
“Ah, there’s even a cat!”
“Roast it and eat it!”
“You glutton!”
Qin Chang Ge frowned and walked over quickly. Seeing her approach, the soldiers released their hands and stepped aside. Qin Chang Ge’s gaze swept over the miraculous cat that had arrived by boat, fortunate enough to become Robinson Crusoe the Second, and her eyes suddenly brightened.
Beside her, Chu Feihuan also trembled slightly.
Picking up the cat, Qin Chang Ge smiled: “This cat was probably abandoned by its owner. Poor thing—I’ll keep it.”
She handed the cat to Chu Feihuan as they walked back. Returning to the tent, before she could speak, Chu Feihuan already said: “Rong’er is across the river!”
Qin Chang Ge smiled helplessly yet hatefully: “That little rascal…”
Finding a small oiled paper strip with her birthmark drawn on it under the cat’s claw, Chu Feihuan unfolded it: “Cao Guangshi’s son plans to raid the camp tonight.”
Qin Chang Ge said angrily: “He looks down on his mother—does he think I can’t handle Cao Guangshi? Making him show off like this! Doesn’t he know that ten thousand Cao Shengs couldn’t exchange for one of him?”
Smiling bitterly, Chu Feihuan said: “He also requests not to kill Cao Sheng—just use him and be done with it.”
“Good person, truly a good person. I actually gave birth to a super good person,” Qin Chang Ge said coldly. “He should think about whether people will be so kind if they discover him!”
“It’s rare to see you this angry,” Chu Feihuan frowned looking toward the river’s opposite bank, murmuring: “I only hope he can protect himself now, or everything will be finished…”