Chapter 1: Stirring Emotions in Motion and Stillness

The three of them left the residence, and several black-clad men came forward to meet them. Ji Fengli had brought backup personnel for tonight’s arrival. These men were all mounted, galloping over from their concealed positions like lightning.

A horse charged toward Ji Fengli. In the dim night, Hua Zhuyu could see that this horse’s coat was entirely red, faintly gleaming with golden yellow, and even its eyes held a fiery red hue. This was an unmistakable fire steed, extremely magnificent.

No one understood better than Hua Zhuyu how important a good horse was for soldiers and generals on the battlefield. She immediately fell in love with this horse upon seeing it. Previously, the horse she often rode in battle was called Zhui Dian, a white horse with a large patch of red hair on its chest that looked like a splash of blood or a bolt of lightning. Since she returned to Yu Capital, she had given that horse to Tai. Tonight, seeing this fire steed, Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help but think of her Zhui Dian.

This fire steed was extremely intelligent. When it reached Ji Fengli, seemingly aware that he was injured, it knelt on its front legs and lowered itself. Ji Fengli tore cloth strips from his white robe, simply bandaged his wound, and slowly mounted the horse. The fire steed whinnied twice softly, then straightened its body.

There were no extra horses; they must have come with one rider per mount. Hua Zhuyu was just thinking about how to steal a horse from the Northern Army inside the city when she heard hoofbeats behind her and a voice calling from behind: “Give me your hand!”

Light as a gentle breeze, mellow as fine wine.

The wind howled, and several fire arrows flew through the air, embedding in the eaves of the residence. Each fire arrow carried cloth strips soaked in oil, and when the wind blew, flames ignited.

In the flickering firelight, Hua Zhuyu turned to look back.

The dim light revealed Ji Fengli’s tall, straight figure, his pale face with those long eyes gazing at her. He held the reins with one hand while leaning down and extending his other hand toward her.

The night wind billowed his wide sleeves, making them roll like clouds before Hua Zhuyu’s eyes.

Even though the two harbored deep hatred like an ocean between them, at this moment Ji Fengli’s words “Give me your hand” caused Hua Zhuyu considerable emotional stirring.

She slowly extended her hand, but just as she was about to touch his palm, her eyes suddenly focused. She saw that the white cloth strips Ji Fengli had just wrapped around his ribs had already been stained red with blood.

Xiao Yin’s thunderous sword strike had clearly penetrated deeply. From the flickering firelight, she could clearly see that his face had lost all color. If he were to ride hard all the way, excessive blood loss might make his injuries even worse. Though she hated him, she also understood that Ji Fengli absolutely could not die now!

Hua Zhuyu frowned and didn’t take Ji Fengli’s hand. Instead, she touched her toes to the ground and leaped up. Her graceful figure landed like a descending goose as she sat in front of Ji Fengli. She took the reins from his hands, squeezed the horse’s flanks, and the horse began to run.

Hua Zhuyu faintly felt her back occasionally touching Ji Fengli’s body, causing her heart to tremble slightly and her body to stiffen instantly. In that moment of impulse, how had she forgotten that riding the same horse would inevitably involve bodily contact? She couldn’t help but feel some regret. She snorted coldly: “Don’t move around, or I’ll throw you off this horse!” Her voice was as cold as ice, extremely sharp.

Ji Fengli’s body clearly stiffened, then she felt him shift slightly backward. The horse seemed somewhat displeased, whinnying softly, and its running speed slowed. Hua Zhuyu’s eyes focused – only then did she realize her tone had been rather harsh. Ji Fengli wasn’t her subordinate; how had she forgotten to restrain herself once on the battlefield? This was his horse after all!

However, while the horse was displeased, the person behind her didn’t seem angry. With an incomparably graceful smile playing at his lips, he reached out to gently pat the horse’s belly, speaking softly: “Zhu Yang, behave!”

Only then did Hua Zhuyu breathe a sigh of relief. She pulled the reins, and the horse resumed running.

Zhu Yang truly lived up to its reputation as a fine horse, running at lightning speed as it carried Hua Zhuyu and Ji Fengli galloping through the streets of Yang Pass.

The Southern Dynasty army was still attacking the city. They could faintly hear tremendous commotion at the city gate – horn sounds, war drums, battle cries, and collision sounds mingling together, shaking heaven and earth.

When they galloped out of the city gate, they saw the dark mass of Southern Dynasty troops in the distance. Torchlight illuminated half the night sky, brightening everything before them.

Once outside the city, Hua Zhuyu spurred her horse toward the Southern Dynasty army. Suddenly, the sharp whistle of arrows cutting through air came from behind. She turned the horse’s head, and feathered arrows fell from the sky like raindrops, dense as silk threads.

Looking through the dense arrow rain toward Yang Pass’s city tower, Northern Dynasty archers had drawn their bows full, with cold arrowheads pointing straight at them. Xiao Yin stood solemnly there, his tall frame encased in black iron armor, straight as a pine tree. The dim firelight on the city tower cast his face in shadows, making his expression unreadable.

Xiao Yin truly deserved to be the Northern Dynasty’s emperor – his word was law. He had kept his promise, not moving against them throughout their exit from the city. Now that they had safely left the city, he struck at this moment.

So quickly, they met again on the battlefield.

Hua Zhuyu had no weapons in hand. Most of the dense arrow rain was blocked by the guards following behind, but several arrows still shot toward her and Ji Fengli.

Those arrows were swift, unstoppable as breaking bamboo.

A soft sound came from behind, followed by a swishing noise as Ji Fengli’s plain fan flew from his hand, spinning several circles in the air, striking down each incoming arrow before returning to his hand.

Hua Zhuyu dared not hesitate and spurred her horse onward. In moments they reached the Southern Dynasty position, far from the range of the Northern Army archers on the city tower and beyond Xiao Yin’s sight.

Soldiers and officers swarmed forward to greet them. Her shoulder suddenly grew heavy as Ji Fengli’s body pressed heavily against her, and warm liquid seeped through her thick military uniform at her back. Hua Zhuyu knew that Ji Fengli had used his internal energy when deflecting the arrow rain, causing his barely clotted wound to bleed again.

Ji Fengli leaned against Hua Zhuyu’s shoulder, his warm breath brushing against her neck, making her extremely uncomfortable. She shifted her shoulder uncomfortably, and Ji Fengli, leaning against her, was jostled off the horse.

Lan Bing was striding forward to meet them. Seeing this, he leaped up and caught Ji Fengli. Hua Zhuyu sat on the horse’s back, looking down from her elevated position in the torchlight to see that the white robe on Ji Fengli’s chest was completely stained red.

Though she had seen plenty of blood on battlefields, at this moment Hua Zhuyu’s heart actually skipped a beat.

Perhaps it was the stark contrast between the white clothes and red blood that looked too shocking; perhaps it was Ji Fengli’s excessively pale complexion; perhaps it was because this injury resulted from saving her – in any case, Hua Zhuyu’s heart felt heavy.

Seeing its master fall from the horse, Zhu Yang beneath her whinnied several times and reared its front legs, about to throw Hua Zhuyu from its back. Hua Zhuyu frowned deeply and leaped down from the horse.

“My Lord Prime Minister, how did you get injured?” Lan Bing cried out urgently.

At Lan Bing’s cry, Ji Fengli’s raven-black lashes trembled slightly, but he didn’t open his eyes. Only a faint bitter smile curved his lips.

Tang Yu was greatly alarmed and quickly stepped forward. Tearing open the simple bandaging on Ji Fengli’s chest wound, he immediately exclaimed in shock: “Quickly send someone to bring a stretcher!”

Two soldiers swiftly brought over a stretcher. Lan Bing placed Ji Fengli on it and helped carry him back. Tang Yu glanced sideways at Hua Zhuyu and said coldly: “The Prime Minister was injured saving you, and you actually let him fall off the horse.”

Hua Zhuyu felt uncomfortable under Lan Bing’s complex and meaningful look, and now Tang Yu’s words made her heart extremely heavy. She hurriedly followed behind the stretcher.

There were pitched tents behind the battlefield. Ji Fengli was carried directly into one, and someone had already gone to summon military physicians. Hua Zhuyu didn’t follow inside but stood outside the tent, watching the military physicians go in and out to stop bleeding and apply medicine.

Hua Zhuyu was infected by their tension and couldn’t help worrying whether Ji Fengli might die from this. At this critical juncture, if Ji Fengli died, it would truly be unfavorable for the Southern Dynasty army. She very much wanted to know what was happening inside, but the guards serving inside didn’t dare reveal half a word about Ji Fengli’s condition. Though Ji Fengli wasn’t the commanding general but only the military supervisor, everyone understood his true value. On the battlefield, the medical condition of such a key figure absolutely could not be casually spread. Hua Zhuyu understood this principle too, but she still very much wanted to know. If he was fine, she wouldn’t stand here in the wind anymore. These northern nights were still extremely cold.

Half an hour later, Hua Zhuyu finally saw two military physicians emerge from the tent with grave expressions. Hua Zhuyu waited a while longer, seeing that there was still no movement inside, thinking Ji Fengli must be fine – otherwise those two physicians wouldn’t have left.

She rubbed her hands together and turned to leave. But just as she had walked a short distance, she heard someone calling from behind: “Yuan Bao, come here! The Prime Minister wants you inside!”

Hua Zhuyu stopped in her tracks and slowly walked back. For a moment, she blamed herself for moving too slowly – she should have left earlier. Now she didn’t know what Ji Fengli wanted with her.

Watching Hua Zhuyu saunter over slowly, Lan Bing frowned and said to her in a low voice: “That sword injured his internal organs. If it had gone any deeper, the Prime Minister would have lost his life. Do you realize this is all because of you, Yuan Bao!”

Hua Zhuyu stopped in her tracks, her back unconsciously stiffening.

This was all because of her! Just now Tang Yu had said so, and now Lan Bing said the same!

She admitted the facts were as they said, and originally she had been very grateful to Ji Fengli. But when everyone said this, it seemed as if she owed him some enormous favor!

Did she owe him? She had once used her own blood to save Ji Fengli from the King of Hell’s grasp. Now, having been saved by him once, they were even. So she didn’t owe him anything! On the contrary, he still owed her – not to mention anything else, he still owed Jin Se her life!

Inside the tent, candlelight was bright. In one corner was a small red clay stove with a clay pot on it brewing medicine, steam curling up and filling the tent with rich medicinal fragrance carrying a slightly bitter scent.

On thick hand-woven felt blankets, gauzy curtains were hung with golden hooks. Ji Fengli lay on the felt blankets. Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes and looked over, his phoenix eyes deep and black as a pool, quietly without a ripple of emotion. Hua Zhuyu steadied her mind and shifted her gaze to Ji Fengli. That blood-stained white robe had been changed, the wound had been bandaged, and no more blood seeped through.

Hua Zhuyu slowly walked to the bedside, her clear eyes curving as she smiled: “Prime Minister, you really frightened Yuan Bao just now. Is your injury alright?”

Actually, Hua Zhuyu was extremely puzzled, not understanding why Ji Fengli would save her.

In Yang Pass’s dungeon, she had still been worrying about how Ji Fengli would punish her, this supposed Northern Dynasty spy, after returning. She never expected such a complete reversal – that he would actually come to rescue her and get injured in the process. No one could understand it!

Ji Fengli raised an eyebrow, a faint light flashing in his ink-black pupils. “So you were frightened – I was wondering, otherwise my dear wouldn’t have let me fall off the horse.”

“Yes, yes, exactly.” Hua Zhuyu said rather awkwardly.

Ji Fengli gazed at Hua Zhuyu, his clear cold eyes seeming veiled with a thick layer of mist, making it impossible for her to read his expression.

“Lan Bing, pass down the order – sound the retreat!” He suddenly spoke, not to Hua Zhuyu but to Lan Bing standing by the entrance.

“Yes!” Lan Bing responded and bowed as he withdrew.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart stirred slightly. Yang Pass faced mountains on one side with treacherous terrain, and the city was strongly fortified. When Xiao Yin had originally captured Yang Pass, it had taken considerable time. Now, for them to retake Yang Pass would not be accomplished overnight. Ji Fengli’s retreat at this time showed he also knew Yang Pass would not be easily conquered. Then his hasty attack on the city tonight – could it really have been to save her?

“Prime Minister, may I ask why you saved this subordinate tonight? Didn’t you consider this subordinate a Northern Dynasty spy?” Hua Zhuyu asked.

Ji Fengli glanced at her with casual indifference, a self-mocking smile curving his lips. “I found it amusing. That’s all.”

Found it amusing? Perhaps he spoke truly, because aside from this reason, she really couldn’t think of any other.

“Does the Prime Minister have other matters? If not, this subordinate requests to withdraw.”

“The medicine is ready.” Ji Fengli didn’t answer her question, instead lying on his side on the felt blanket, casually picking up a scroll to read with lowered eyes.

Hua Zhuyu frowned, her gaze wandering around the tent, only now noticing there wasn’t a single guard inside. The medicine on the stove was indeed bubbling away. She had no choice but to walk over and remove the medicine from the stove.

“There’s a bowl on the table beside you.” The voice, light as flowing spring water, came softly again.

So he really was treating her like a servant. Hua Zhuyu had no choice but to take a bowl from the table and pour the medicine into it. She placed the medicine bowl on the table and turned to say: “Prime Minister, the medicine is here. This subordinate requests to withdraw.”

“Bring it over.” Ji Fengli kept his eyes lowered on the book, speaking casually.

Hua Zhuyu was annoyed and couldn’t help frowning. Why hadn’t Xiao Yin’s sword gone a little deeper and knocked him unconscious for several days – how wonderful that would have been. For the sake of him rescuing her from the Northern Dynasty, she would reluctantly endure it. She picked up the medicine bowl and walked directly to Ji Fengli, raising her hand to place the bowl in his hands. But this fellow lay on his side without moving, not reaching out to take it at all.

Hua Zhuyu narrowed her eyes.

If he didn’t move, neither would she!

If he didn’t speak, neither would she!

He stared at the scroll in his hands, she stared at the medicine bowl in hers.

Who knew who was testing whose patience – fortunately she had wrapped the bowl with a silk cloth, so holding it wasn’t hot.

After this standoff continued for a while, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became rather strange.

After a long time, Ji Fengli finally couldn’t help putting down the scroll in his hands and looking up at her.

Hua Zhuyu blinked her lashes and met his gaze, gently curving her lips.

There’s a saying: “A backward glance and smile bring forth a hundred charms.” When Hua Zhuyu smiled like this, with her bright eyes and white teeth, brilliant as flowers at spring dawn, she was truly devastatingly beautiful, making Ji Fengli’s heart skip a beat.

“Yuan Bao, don’t you know how to serve a patient?” He stared intently at Hua Zhuyu’s eyes, light swirling within them like kindled fire.

So he really did want her to serve him his medicine! However, not everyone could withstand her kind of service.

“The Prime Minister should have said so earlier!” Hua Zhuyu knelt on the felt blanket, picked up the spoon in her hand, ladled a large spoonful of medicine, and brought it to his lips.

Ji Fengli opened his mouth and swallowed it, his long eyebrows furrowing slightly. The medicine must have been very bitter – you could tell just from the smell. And it might have been a little hot too, though it had cooled for a while and should have been bearable. So Hua Zhuyu didn’t care whether it was bitter or hot, feeding him spoonful after spoonful rapidly. Ji Fengli didn’t refuse at all, drinking it down mouthful after mouthful. Soon, the large bowl of medicine was empty.

Who would have known Ji Fengli so enjoyed drinking medicine? This bitter medicine made Hua Zhuyu want to vomit just from smelling it, let alone drinking it.

Hua Zhuyu stood up and was about to place the bowl on the table when her topknot seemed caught by something. Her body stiffened, not daring to move. When disguised as a man, she always wore her hair in a topknot secured with a wooden hairpin. Hua Zhuyu reached up and felt around – it turned out the golden hook holding the curtain had caught her hair.

Hua Zhuyu held the bowl in one hand while raising the other to fumble around on top of her head trying to untangle it, but after working at it for a long time, she couldn’t get the golden hook loose.

Ji Fengli saw this, and a barely perceptible smile rippled in his phoenix eyes. He threw back the covers, supported himself against the bedpost, slowly stood up, and moved step by step to Hua Zhuyu’s side.

“Let me!” he said, light as spring breeze, reaching up to help untangle her caught hair.

He pressed close to Hua Zhuyu’s side. She could smell the clean scent of medicinal herbs on his body, tinged with slight bitterness. When Hua Zhuyu looked up slightly, she could see his face. At this moment, his gaze was deep yet gentle and focused.

Hua Zhuyu felt somewhat worried, her heart suddenly leaping with concern that he might pull out the wooden hairpin. If that happened and her hair cascaded down, she feared he would realize she was a woman.

“Prime Minister, there’s no need, let me do it myself,” she said softly, reaching out to push him away.

Accidentally pushing against his rib wound, a sharp intake of breath came from above. Ji Fengli lost his balance and leaned backward. Hua Zhuyu’s heart jumped in alarm, and she quickly reached out to support his waist. Just as her hand touched his waist, Ji Fengli’s body stiffened instantly. He seemed unwilling to have Hua Zhuyu’s hand supporting him and tried to brush her away while leaning back, but he couldn’t steady himself. When he pushed Hua Zhuyu away, both lost their footing and stumbled to the ground with crashes and rustling sounds – the crash being the bowl falling from Hua Zhuyu’s hand, and the rustling being the curtains collapsing.

The golden hook on Hua Zhuyu’s head still hadn’t been freed, pulling the curtains down with them as they fell. The two were instantly covered by the gauzy, misty curtains.

Hua Zhuyu landed on Ji Fengli’s chest, her lips touching something soft and tender.

Her mind immediately exploded like thunder and lightning. Oh heavens, let her die!

She had actually fallen on top of Ji Fengli, and her lips had made intimate contact with his.

She hurriedly turned her face aside. With this movement, she heard Ji Fengli’s voice, husky with a magnetic quality, softly saying: “Don’t move!”

Hua Zhuyu’s body stiffened as she suddenly realized she was pressing on his wound. Beneath her was his rapidly beating chest. Hua Zhuyu’s face instantly grew hot. Fortunately, they were covered by the curtains, so Ji Fengli couldn’t see.

She lay on his chest and was about to carefully get up when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent, followed by the tent flap being lifted as someone entered.

“Prime Minister… what happened?” The person quickly walked over and reached out to lift the misty curtains covering them both.

Suddenly, an earth-shattering, soul-stirring cry of shock exploded overhead. Hua Zhuyu was so startled her heart trembled. She looked back to see the newcomer was Tong Shou, whose dumbfounded expression was simply too amusing, as if he had witnessed something utterly scandalous.

Hua Zhuyu also knew that at this moment, her position with Ji Fengli was as intimate as could be.

Ji Fengli had just been treated and his outer robe wasn’t fastened tightly. With this fall, his clothes had opened, revealing his firm, sensual chest, and she was pressed against his bare skin.

Hua Zhuyu slowly climbed off Ji Fengli. She reached up with both hands, and finding she couldn’t untangle the golden hook, she yanked hard, pulling out several strands of hair. Her topknot was somewhat disheveled but fortunately hadn’t come undone.

“Prime Minister, this subordinate requests to withdraw,” she said, turning around with lowered lashes hiding the barely perceptible panic in her eyes.

Ji Fengli still lay on the felt blanket, squinting at her, his eyes holding unclear flames that seemed to burn dimly.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart skipped under such a gaze. She turned and quickly walked toward the exit. As she passed Tong Shou, she inadvertently looked up to see his face had already turned the color of pig’s liver.

“Cut… cut… cut…” Tong Shou pointed at Hua Zhuyu, either not daring to speak in front of Ji Fengli or stuttering from shock.

“Cut sleeves, right?” Hua Zhuyu felt somewhat angry, glancing coldly at Tong Shou. “Even if I were cut, it would be with someone like you! Look at your build – so tall, sturdy, mighty, and imposing!”

Tong Shou was so frightened he rapidly retreated a step.

Dear mother! This time he was so shocked he didn’t dare say anything – he had a wife at home! From that day forward, Tong Shou avoided Hua Zhuyu like the plague, treating her like a venomous snake or wild beast, not even daring to look at her.

Outside the tent, the night was deep and thick.

Lan Bing stood in the darkness. Seeing Hua Zhuyu emerge, he looked up and glanced at her. That gaze was exactly like the one he’d given her when she came out of Ji Fengli’s room that day. Hua Zhuyu instantly understood that Lan Bing had probably thought she and Ji Fengli were cut sleeves since that day.

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t be bothered to explain and quickly walked away.

“Where are you going? The Prime Minister has ordered that you care for him from now on.” Lan Bing’s brow furrowed as he spoke coldly. Actually, he probably didn’t want her caring for Ji Fengli either, but Ji Fengli’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed.

Hua Zhuyu stopped in her tracks, truly unable to understand why Ji Fengli had refused her care when he fell ill with the plague in Xuanzhou, yet now was so willing to have her care for him.

“Why have me provide care?” Hua Zhuyu asked, narrowing her eyes.

“There are no women in the army. Since you were a palace servant, you’re better at caring for people,” Lan Bing said, squinting.

Hua Zhuyu stood without moving. “But I’ve already enlisted and am now a member of the army, not a palace servant.”

“As an army member, this is a military order. Would you dare disobey?” Lan Bing turned back and said indifferently.

Hua Zhuyu stopped in her tracks. She naturally didn’t dare disobey military orders and had no choice but to follow Lan Bing back inside slowly.

Inside the tent, Ji Fengli sat on the felt blanket, his long eyes slightly narrowed, his entire being radiating a cold, sharp aura.

“Tong Shou, how about I give you this tent to live in from now on?” Ji Fengli spoke word by word, his tone casual as if he didn’t care.

Tong Shou’s face paled. He scratched his head and said quietly: “Prime Minister, Tong Shou will definitely announce himself before entering in the future.”

“Tong Shou, what business did you have when you came in just now?” Ji Fengli asked casually.

Tong Shou stepped forward: “Prime Minister, Yang Pass’s fortifications are solid and their provisions abundant. Even if we besiege them here for a year or two, it won’t be easy to subdue them. What should we do now? Continuing to drag this out isn’t a solution. If winter comes, the northern regions are harsh and cold. Our army isn’t adapted to the environment here and will surely be worn down. If Xiao Yin then advances south, we’ll lose more and more cities.”

Ji Fengli laughed coldly, slowly lying back down. After pondering briefly, he said casually: “Yang Pass must be subdued, but since I’m injured now, if they don’t attack us, we’ll temporarily wear them down. As for their abundant provisions, that’s nothing – we can make their provisions insufficient.”

“But Prime Minister, if we can’t even break through Yang Pass’s walls, how can we destroy their provisions?” Tong Shou asked, puzzled.

“Did I say we’d destroy their provisions? Besides provisions, there must be other things that can become insufficient.” Ji Fengli lowered his lashes and slowly closed his eyes.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart stirred slightly. Actually, she was quite familiar with Western frontier terrain, and she had also studied the Northern frontier. She remembered reading a book that recorded how the northern regions were arid and Yang Pass bordered mountains. Later, the Southern Dynasty had tunneled through the nearby mountains to bring water into Yang Pass – that was the only underground waterway in Yang Pass. If they cut off Yang Pass’s waterway, it would be more serious than destroying their provisions. One could go three days without food, but not three days without water. Then Xiao Yin would definitely withdraw from Yang Pass, allowing them to subdue it without losing a single soldier.

“Do you have a good strategy?” Hua Zhuyu was deep in thought when she heard Ji Fengli’s voice speaking casually. She looked up to find his gaze fixed on her face.

Hua Zhuyu steadied herself and said slowly: “I’ve heard that Yang Pass has an underground river – the only underground waterway.” If they could subdue Yang Pass without fighting, that would be best.

Lan Bing clapped his hands: “How could we almost forget this! Excellent! Xiao Yin is a Northern Dynasty person and certainly doesn’t know the importance of the underground river. Our operation would be easy too.”

Ji Fengli said nothing, his thin lips slightly pursed as he gazed at Hua Zhuyu for a long time, dark currents surging in his eyes.

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t guess what Ji Fengli was thinking, but this version of him made her especially nervous, as if he had seen through something. Her heart grew heavy – could Ji Fengli already be suspecting her identity?

That day when she left the city to meet Xiao Yin, she originally hadn’t planned to fight. But unexpectedly, Xiao Yin had forgotten her, forcing her to resist. At that time, Ji Fengli had been standing on the city tower and surely saw her battle with Xiao Yin.

She had used a long spear then. People from the martial world wouldn’t use long spears, which were cavalry weapons – only those who had been on battlefields would use them. But there were many people in this world who had been on battlefields, not just Ying Shuxie. And Tai was currently impersonating Ying Shuxie, so he shouldn’t suspect. Moreover, when she rescued from the execution ground that day, she had used a sword and sword techniques. Even if Ji Fengli had heard of Ying Shuxie, he had never personally seen Ying Shuxie fight with a long spear.

Hua Zhuyu steadied her mind, feeling she might be overthinking.

Ying Shuxie was still a Southern Dynasty fugitive. If Ji Fengli had even the slightest suspicion, he would have captured her long ago – why would he go to the Northern Dynasty to rescue her?

This logic didn’t make sense!

“Yuan Bao, how are you so familiar with the terrain here?” Lan Bing glanced at Hua Zhuyu, his eyes holding hidden surprise.

“I just read a lot,” Hua Zhuyu looked back at Lan Bing, her gaze calm as water, indifferent and serene.

“Yuan Bao, you’ve been on battlefields before, haven’t you? Your spear work is quite good – truly unexpected. We really couldn’t tell in normal times.” Lan Bing said casually.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart grew slightly cold. She looked up at Lan Bing, but he was also a master at concealing emotions – she couldn’t read anything from his expression. Behind him, Tong Shou raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and looked at Hua Zhuyu with curiosity, seeming quite puzzled. If they suspected she was Ying Shuxie, Tong Shou probably wouldn’t look so curious and confused.

From the corner of her eye, Hua Zhuyu glanced at Ji Fengli lying on the felt blanket. She saw him pillowing his arm with eyes quietly closed, as if already asleep, completely indifferent to her conversation with Lan Bing.

Hua Zhuyu breathed a slight sigh of relief. She looked calmly at Lan Bing, a bitter smile curving her lips as she spoke with some desolation: “Yes, I have been on battlefields. People like us – wandering martial artists – what haven’t we done? Sadly, we had no way to serve our country and ended up becoming palace eunuchs. I thought I could display my talents, but who knew I’d still accomplish nothing.”

Tong Shou was somewhat moved. Who in this world willingly became a eunuch?

Lan Bing sighed softly: “For someone like Yuan Bao, becoming a eunuch is indeed a pity. Since you’ll be caring for the Prime Minister at night, I’ve had a small tent pitched beside the main tent. Go rest there.”

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t have asked for better. She smiled slightly and walked out of Ji Fengli’s tent.

The sky was dark, and warm, bright torchlight illuminated the surroundings of the camp. Looking around, soldiers’ tents were everywhere, arranged in orderly rows – a magnificent sight. The Southern Dynasty had stopped attacking the city, and there was no movement from the Northern Army either. The battlefield was quiet except for the footsteps of patrolling soldiers and the sound of banners fluttering in the night wind.

Beside Ji Fengli’s tent, a simple tent had indeed been erected. Hua Zhuyu slowly walked inside. The tent held simple items – just daily necessities.

From the Southern Dynasty to Su Prefecture, traveling north over a thousand li, Hua Zhuyu had always crowded into tents with other soldiers. Tonight was the first time she had her own small tent. Removing her shoes, she slowly walked to the felt blanket spread on the ground and lay down slowly.

Though extremely tired, her mind was troubled and she couldn’t sleep immediately.

In this military camp in the future, she would probably need to be even more careful. However, having already displayed her abilities, deliberately hiding them now would be more suspicious. Better to let things flow naturally and present herself as a wandering martial artist with no way to serve her country who now had a chance to properly display her talents.

In the supervisor’s tent.

Ji Fengli slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across Lan Bing and Tong Shou’s faces, sharp and cold.

“Prime Minister, Yuan Bao is truly a rare talent. The Prime Minister risked danger to rescue him from the Northern Army – you must intend to make important use of him,” Lan Bing asked with a light smile.

He felt that to prevent the Prime Minister from cut sleeve relationships, he shouldn’t reveal such thoughts in front of the Prime Minister anymore and should act as if the Prime Minister valued his talent.

“Has there been any news of Ying Shuxie lately?” Ji Fengli asked, turning on his side.

Lan Bing smiled lightly: “Yes, this is new information just received from the capital.” He stepped forward and took a letter from his sleeve, handing it to Ji Fengli.

Ji Fengli took the letter and read it quickly. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint smile flashed in his deep, long eyes. “Ying Shuxie appeared in Yu Capital again?”

Lan Bing nodded and asked carefully: “Prime Minister, with Ying Shuxie appearing in Yu Capital, might he enter the palace to assassinate the Grand Emperor?”

“No!” Ji Fengli shook his head and read the letter again. Squinting, he tossed it into the small stove where medicine was brewing. Flames licked at it, blue smoke curled up, and the letter instantly turned to ash.

“Silver mask, silver spear, Tianya Mingyue blade, white Zhui Dian horse…” Ji Fengli lay on his side, supporting his chin with one hand while tapping the felt blanket with the other, his thin lips curved in an elegant yet lazy smile.

Sometimes, the more perfectly one disguised oneself, the less real it was – more like concealing and hiding something. And the real Ying Shuxie…

Ji Fengli squinted slightly. It seemed his guess was correct. Ying Shuxie, ah Ying Shuxie – thinking that after deceiving him once, he would fall for it again this time?

“Prime Minister…” Tong Shou found Ji Fengli’s smile somewhat inexplicable.

“Lan Bing, when I originally sent people to investigate Yuan Bao’s identity, tell me the results again.” Ji Fengli asked casually.

“Yuan Bao first appeared at Zuixian Workshop, working as a musician for several days. One day Huangfu Wushuang noticed him and captured him to be made a palace eunuch. Since he suddenly appeared in the imperial capital, we couldn’t find out about his background or anything else. Normally, someone with his appearance should leave a deep impression on people, but we just couldn’t find anything.” Lan Bing also found it strange. At that time, he had taken Yuan Bao’s portrait and given it to informants everywhere, but all results came back empty – no one had ever seen this person.

“That’s not strange. Perhaps his appearance was never exposed before.” Ji Fengli smiled, clear light rippling in his phoenix eyes.

Tong Shou scratched his head in confusion, understanding the Prime Minister’s words even less. “Prime Minister, why was it never exposed?”

Ji Fengli glanced at Tong Shou and said lazily: “Perhaps he was learning martial arts in deep mountains.”

“No wonder!” Tong Shou said with a frown, actually believing Ji Fengli’s words.

But Lan Bing didn’t believe Ji Fengli’s words and vaguely felt the Prime Minister knew something but didn’t want to say it.

Hearing them mention Yuan Bao, Tong Shou’s dark face reddened again, as if he were the one with cut sleeves. After a while, he suddenly interjected: “Speaking of Yuan Bao, he’s quite pitiful. He could have been a man of peerless grace, but instead became neither male nor female. That day, I sent people to quietly inquire about Yuan Bao’s situation in the palace. The Eastern Palace guards said Eunuch Ge personally did the deed. Eunuch Ge is famously skilled in the palace – he’s done this his whole life. I heard Yuan Bao could barely walk afterward, lost so much blood…”

The tent’s dim candlelight illuminated Ji Fengli’s exquisite face. Perhaps from blood loss or emotional turbulence, his face was extremely pale, even his thin lips tinged with cold white. His fingers resting on the felt blanket trembled slightly, and deep sorrow and grief flashed in his eyes.

Lan Bing also fell silent for a moment. It was indeed pitiable, especially since this Yuan Bao appeared to be a proud person. But even so, he was still a man – a man castrated by Eunuch Ge – and he absolutely couldn’t allow the Prime Minister to sink deeper.

Lan Bing coldly glanced at Tong Shou, signaling him to stop talking.

“Prime Minister, how should we fight this battle? Should we summon Wang Yu to discuss strategy?” Lan Bing quickly changed the subject.

“No need. I’m somewhat tired today and won’t discuss strategy. Lan Bing, have someone send word for Xi Jiangyue to quietly prepare provisions and winter clothing for unexpected needs.” Ji Fengli said wearily, lowering his lashes and closing his eyes as he lay on the felt blanket. “You may both withdraw!”

Lan Bing extinguished the candles in the tent and withdrew with Tong Shou.

“Lan Bing, are our provisions insufficient?” Tong Shou asked with a frown.

Lan Bing sighed: “The Prime Minister is preparing for unforeseen circumstances. Court affairs are hard to predict.”