The person before her wore white robes and cold armor, holding a long spear with blood still dripping from its tip. A moon-colored cloak billowed behind him in the wind as he stood proudly alone, as if he were the only one left independent in heaven and earth.

Wind blew his battle robes as he stood imposing like a war god descending to the mortal realm. Cold aura emanated from his entire being, yet he also seemed like a soul-reaping messenger from hell.

The newcomer wore a helmet and his face was covered with black cloth, making his features unrecognizable. Only a pair of cold eyes visible outside stared at her unblinkingly.

That gaze was both deep and burning. Hua Zhuyu felt momentarily dazed – who was this person?

“Who are you?” Hua Zhuyu asked coldly.

The newcomer reached up and removed his helmet, then casually tore off the black cloth covering his face and threw it on the ground. He also removed the cloak and silver armor from behind him, spun his long spear gracefully, and casually planted it in the ground.

Hua Zhuyu’s eyes widened as she stared in amazement at the blood-soaked war god who had instantly transformed into an elegant, composed Left Prime Minister.

If not for the bloodstains on the hem of his white robes, Hua Zhuyu would almost suspect she had seen wrong.

The man who had just been so imposing with blazing electric eyes was Ji Fengli. That version of Ji Fengli was a stranger to her.

Though she knew his martial arts were very high, she had never imagined that when he donned battle armor and wielded a long spear, he would look like that.

She had never expected Ji Fengli to personally lead one hundred thousand troops here. Probably to prevent his identity from being exposed, he had worn a face covering.

Honestly, even though Hua Zhuyu had witnessed with her own eyes his transformation from blood-soaked war god to elegant gentleman, she still found it somewhat unbelievable – those soldiers would certainly find it even harder to believe.

“How severe are your injuries?” Ji Fengli’s handsome brows furrowed slightly as he asked with a rather poor tone.

“Not fatal!” Hua Zhuyu leaned against the tree trunk beside her with one hand, answering lazily.

Ji Fengli was completely enraged by Hua Zhuyu’s teasing tone and coldly narrowed his eyes: “How is it not fatal?” He must have learned how Hua Zhuyu was injured – the coldness and annoyance in his tone were so obvious.

“Disasters persist for a thousand years! I won’t die so easily!” Hua Zhuyu curved her lips in another smile.

“Prime Minister, Commander Bao is fine – just suffered some internal injuries. A few days of rest and he’ll be alright,” Tang Yu quickly said upon seeing this.

Ji Fengli said nothing and quickly walked to Hua Zhuyu’s side, his hand moving like lightning as he placed his palm against her back.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart jumped in alarm. Just as she was about to struggle and dodge, she heard Ji Fengli coldly shout: “Don’t move!”

In an instant, Hua Zhuyu felt a surge of true energy from her back penetrate through her limbs and bones. Ji Fengli was actually using internal energy to help heal her injuries. His internal energy was truly profound – soon, Hua Zhuyu felt the pain in her internal organs lessen considerably, becoming much more comfortable.

After an incense stick’s time, Ji Fengli withdrew his palm from her back and coldly instructed Tang Yu beside him: “Go find a stretcher. Commander Bao probably can’t ride a horse.”

Tang Yu went as ordered and soon returned leading soldiers carrying a stretcher. Hua Zhuyu lay on the stretcher and was carried down the mountain by the soldiers.

Though the army had achieved great victory, Xiao Yin hadn’t personally participated this time. Ji Fengli worried that if Xiao Yin learned all one hundred eighty thousand Southern Dynasty troops were here, he would surely guess Yang Pass was undefended. So he ordered the army to depart quickly, traveling day and night toward Yang Pass.

With one hundred eighty thousand troops rushing here, Yang Pass with only twenty thousand garrison troops was essentially an empty city stratagem. News of the Northern Army’s crushing defeat quickly reached Xiao Yin, who immediately led his remaining soldiers to attack Yang Pass.

Ji Fengli selected one hundred thousand soldiers from the main force as an advance guard traveling day and night, reaching Yang Pass in one day and night. When they returned, Yang Pass was already in critical danger and about to be breached. When Ji Fengli had left, he had specifically instructed Wang Yu that no matter how the Northern Army challenged them to battle, they must not engage – they should rely on Yang Pass’s high walls and thick fortifications to hold out until the main force returned.

After the advance troops returned, they immediately joined the city defense battle and finally managed to temporarily secure Yang Pass.

In this great battle, the Northern Army had sent one hundred thousand troops originally intending to annihilate the Southern Dynasty’s eighty thousand soldiers, but unexpectedly ended up caught between the Southern Dynasty’s one hundred eighty thousand troops attacking from front and rear. Only twenty thousand soldiers broke through in the end, losing eighty thousand troops. Meanwhile, the Southern Dynasty, including Yang Pass’s garrison soldiers, had only lost thirty thousand troops total.

Thus, the Northern and Southern Dynasties formed a gap in troop numbers.

Northern Dynasty soldiers retreated north of Qingming River, facing Southern Dynasty soldiers across the water. As for Liang Prefecture, Western Liang’s soldiers indeed had no one hundred thousand troops as Hua Zhuyu had predicted – only fifty thousand, with thirty thousand being new recruits. Under the defense of Liang Prefecture’s garrison commander, it wasn’t breached either.

This battle saw the Southern Dynasty drive the Northern Army from Southern Dynasty territory back to Northern Dynasty lands – it could be called a great victory for the Southern Dynasty. Wang Yu stationed troops along the Qingming River for defense. It would no longer be easy for the Northern Army to attack Southern Dynasty territory again.

Hua Zhuyu had suffered internal injuries and didn’t return with the advance troops. Two days later, she finally returned to Yang Pass. Military physicians sent by Ji Fengli wanted to check her pulse and examine her injuries, but Hua Zhuyu declined them all. She didn’t want military physicians to discover she was female. Fortunately, Ji Fengli had previously used internal energy to heal her injuries and knew she had only suffered internal energy damage that required rest and recuperation, so he didn’t insist.

Hua Zhuyu was now Tiger Roar Battalion’s commander, but due to her injuries, she was still housed beside Ji Fengli’s military tent. Daily, the army’s head cook specially prepared meals suitable for healing injuries and had army soldiers deliver them.

Commander Bao had also become famous from this battle. Especially Hua Zhuyu’s blocking action had won Tiger Roar Battalion’s hearts – everyone not only admired her but felt deep loyalty.

Though some soldiers recognized Hua Zhuyu as the Yuan Bao eunuch who had caused trouble in the Eastern Palace, this didn’t damage her reputation, nor did any soldiers look down on her. On the contrary, they felt extremely sorry for her. They couldn’t connect Hua Zhuyu with the demonic disaster-bringing eunuch no matter what – such an intelligent and brave youth, even if a eunuch, how could he bring disaster? Moreover, the bonds forged through shared life-and-death experiences on the battlefield were unshakeable.

The war between the Northern Army and Southern Dynasty reached a stalemate stage.

Daily, the Southern Dynasty practiced military drills, while Hua Zhuyu did nothing but recover from injuries, feeling very bored.

What made Hua Zhuyu even more depressed was that the army cook specially assigned by Ji Fengli to prepare her meals daily followed the military physician’s instructions, making light but nutritious dishes – apparently meat was bad for recovering from internal injuries. Hua Zhuyu knew this, but after eating vegetarian food for half a month, her mouth was so bland she could hardly stand it anymore. She suddenly missed An terribly – if he were here, he would certainly help her hunt some mountain chickens in the forest and roast them fragrantly. She didn’t count on Ping – he would definitely make her follow the military physician’s orders.

This evening, Hua Zhuyu brought two Tiger Roar Battalion lieutenants and quietly slipped into the woods beside the camp. Actually, there was quite a lot of game on this mountain. She sat cross-legged under a tree waiting, and soon the two lieutenants returned – one carrying a mountain chicken, the other a wild rabbit, both already slaughtered, plucked, and cleaned by the stream.

The two gathered some firewood and lit a small campfire. Hua Zhuyu stuffed salt and seasonings stolen from the army kitchen into the chicken and rabbit’s bellies, personally roasting them. She had seen An do this before – when properly roasted, they would definitely taste good.

Soon the meat was half-cooked and the meat fragrance slowly wafted out.

“Commander Bao, when it’s cooked, don’t eat too much – you said you’d just taste it,” one lieutenant said quietly.

Hua Zhuyu quickly nodded with a smile: “Good, just taste, just taste.” She could “taste” an entire chicken. It was rare that they believed this – Ping, An, Kang, and Tai certainly wouldn’t.

“If the Prime Minister finds out, we two are doomed. The Prime Minister is terrifying when angry…” one lieutenant said carefully.

“How terrifying? Tell me about it.” In the darkness, an elegant, cold voice suddenly came over.

Hua Zhuyu’s hand shook and she nearly dropped the roasted meat into the fire.

The two lieutenants were so startled they almost jumped up. Their terrified expressions were spectacular as they tremblingly stood up, looking fearfully at the white figure in the darkness and stammering incoherently: “Prime Minister, we… we’ll never dare again!”

“Leave quickly, or I’ll charge you with unauthorized departure from camp!” Ji Fengli’s voice grew several degrees colder.

So the two lieutenants very unrighteously fled with their heads covered.

Hua Zhuyu snorted coldly and looked up at Ji Fengli in the shadows. She had been too focused on roasting meat and hadn’t noticed when he arrived.

“The Prime Minister has such a keen nose – even keener than Cang Yun’s!” Hua Zhuyu curled her lips disdainfully and mocked.

“Who is Cang Yun?” Ji Fengli leaned leisurely against a tree trunk with arms crossed, asking lazily.

“A dog my family used to keep.” Hua Zhuyu said rudely. With such a keen nose, wasn’t it just like a dog’s nose?

Ji Fengli wasn’t annoyed either, his lips slightly curved in a smile that could bewitch all living beings.

Finally getting the chicken roasted, Hua Zhuyu’s appetite was aroused. She tore off a glistening chicken leg and opened her mouth to bite.

In the darkness, Ji Fengli’s cloud sleeves fluttered, sending a gust of wind. A tree branch shot toward the chicken leg. Her hand trembled slightly, unable to hold the chicken leg, and she watched the fragrant meat at her lips fall to the ground.

Hua Zhuyu was furious. That damned Ji Fengli was bullying her because her internal energy hadn’t recovered! She suppressed her anger and tore off the other chicken leg. Another gust of wind came. This time Hua Zhuyu was prepared and hastily turned around, not expecting Ji Fengli had already calculated that she would dodge. Very unfortunately, this chicken leg also fell into the dirt.

“Ji Fengli… you…” Hua Zhuyu called out hatefully.

She suddenly stood up from the ground, holding the remaining roasted chicken body and turning to leave. Ji Fengli slowly emerged from the darkness, moving his feet like white flowing light, instantly appearing before her. His sleeve fluttered, sending powerful energy directly at the roasted chicken in her hands.

Hua Zhuyu was completely enraged. Before his sleeve could reach her, she angrily threw the chicken on the ground and turned to pounce on Ji Fengli.

The two fought and moved in the dimly lit woods. With Hua Zhuyu’s current weakened internal energy, she naturally was no match for Ji Fengli. Ji Fengli wasn’t using his full strength either – just playing with her.

Hua Zhuyu grew even more furious, her moves becoming increasingly fierce. Ji Fengli didn’t want to fight her seriously. When she attacked again, he hooked his foot, causing Hua Zhuyu’s body to lean back and fall backward.

Ji Fengli extended his arm and Hua Zhuyu fell into his embrace.

She felt the arm around her waist was strong and burning hot. Her heart trembled and her whole body stiffened, not daring to move or even breathe, trying hard to maintain a calm expression. She slowly straightened up, wanting to stand up from Ji Fengli’s embrace, but saw him smile and lean down, saying softly: “Alright, stop here. You can’t use internal energy now, and you can’t eat meat either.”

Behind them was the deep blue peaceful night sky with scattered stars – a scene of perfect tranquility. A handsome face leaned down toward her. Hua Zhuyu was forced to fall back into his embrace again. Staring at the soul-stirring smile in the phoenix eyes before her, she suddenly roared: “You’re not my father or mother – what right do you have to control me? I want to eat, I want to not recover my internal energy!”

Ji Fengli was really getting addicted to controlling her – not only arranging her daily meals but not allowing her to train Tiger Roar Battalion, and now even controlling her meat eating.

After finishing this outburst, the arm around her waist immediately stiffened. The smile in Ji Fengli’s eyes seemed to instantly freeze from rippling water into cold ice. He slowly released Hua Zhuyu’s body and turned to walk toward the edge of the woods, his clear, cold, outstanding white robes gradually merging into the forest’s darkness.

His desolate aura puzzled Hua Zhuyu somewhat. She remembered Ji Fengli’s face was quite thick-skinned – he shouldn’t be so saddened by her yelling like this. She turned and walked to the fire, seeing the wild rabbit was also cooked. She took the rabbit meat from the wooden rack, extinguished the campfire, and walked toward the forest edge. Soon she caught up to Ji Fengli, raised her hand, and threw the rabbit meat over: “Forget it, I won’t eat it. I’ll give it to you.” This disturbance had completely killed her appetite for meat.

Ji Fengli caught the wild rabbit in his sleeve, tore off a piece of rabbit meat, and slowly chewed it.

“Is my cooking good?” Hua Zhuyu asked with narrowed eyes.

Ji Fengli’s lips curved in a smile: “Naturally delicious. I didn’t expect little Bao’s cooking skills were so good too!”

“Of course.” Hua Zhuyu said proudly. In cooking, she was An’s disciple.

Ji Fengli stood there with a strange expression. After a long time, he finally managed to swallow that piece of “delicious” rabbit meat.

The next day, the meal the cook brought Hua Zhuyu was very different from usual. Honey-glazed squab, lotus leaf sauce-flavored meat, sand ginseng lily chicken soup – all meat dishes. Hua Zhuyu looked at the dishes on the table with a smile, picked up chopsticks, and asked incredulously: “This… is really for me to eat?” Ji Fengli was allowing her to eat meat?

The cook nodded with a smile: “Yes. However, these aren’t meat dishes but vegetarian dishes. Commander Bao, try the taste.”

This fragrant-looking squab and sauce meat were vegetarian dishes? Hua Zhuyu incredulously picked up a piece of sauce meat and put it in her mouth. Indeed it wasn’t real meat, but it was equally fragrant and delicious – even more tasty than real meat.

“I can’t tell – your cooking skills are quite good. Tell me, what’s this made from? How do you make it?” Hua Zhuyu asked curiously while eating.

The cook grinned upon hearing this: “As long as Commander Bao likes it. However, I didn’t make this. How could someone like me make such exquisite dishes? If I had such cooking skills, I would have entered the palace as an imperial chef long ago. The Prime Minister personally cooked this.”

Hua Zhuyu was eating heartily when she choked on hearing this. She quickly drank several mouthfuls of soup before swallowing. Ji Fengli’s cooking skills were actually so good – this wasn’t the most surprising part. What was surprising was that he had actually cooked for her! For the first time, Hua Zhuyu faced delicious food but ate without really tasting it.

That afternoon, Ji Fengli sent guards to summon Hua Zhuyu to play chess.

Hua Zhuyu had long known through Huangfu Wushuang that Ji Fengli’s chess skills were superb. She hadn’t played chess for many days and her hands were indeed itching for it. Rarely having such an opponent, she agreed and followed the guard to Ji Fengli’s military tent.

Ji Fengli and Lan Bing were sitting properly on either side of a table with a chessboard set up.

Lan Bing held white pieces and was frowning in thought. Seeing the guard lead Hua Zhuyu in, he slowly put down the piece he’d been holding and smiled: “Commander Bao has arrived. Prime Minister, I’ll step aside to observe.”

Hua Zhuyu glanced at Ji Fengli and sat in the chair Lan Bing vacated, saying: “The Prime Minister probably won’t play chess with Yuan Bao. My small chess skills can’t match the Prime Minister’s.”

Ji Fengli slowly put down his teacup and said casually: “I very much want to compete with Yuan Bao’s small chess skills.” He seemed to deliberately emphasize the words “small,” his eyes flashing with mischief.

Hua Zhuyu took black pieces, Ji Fengli took white, and they began playing. Hua Zhuyu’s first move was placed on the central point of the board – tengen. Seeing this, Lan Bing looked at her somewhat surprised. Hua Zhuyu understood his surprise – generally people started from corners, then edges, then fought for the center.

Ji Fengli showed no surprise, just imperceptibly raised an eyebrow and picked up a white piece to respond.

The two went back and forth, placing pieces silently. Initially they moved quickly, but gradually both slowed down.

As more pieces were placed, Hua Zhuyu’s black pieces occupied exponentially more territory.

Ji Fengli remained unhurried throughout. His chess style was also conventional without anything special, yet Hua Zhuyu always felt that no matter how she maneuvered, Ji Fengli calmly responded without showing emotion.

By the one hundred thirtieth move, each placement required Hua Zhuyu to consider longer and longer. On the black and white board, one wrong move could lose the entire game, so both she and Ji Fengli became increasingly cautious.

The sky had gradually darkened, but neither seemed to notice. A guard nearby rose to light candles, and warm light immediately filled the entire tent.

Hua Zhuyu stared at the board before her and reached for the teacup beside her, slowly taking a sip. This was tea the guard had brewed for her earlier, but it had long grown cold, clearing her mind somewhat when she drank it. She frowned and put down the teacup. Ji Fengli frowned and gestured. The nearby guard hastily emptied the cold tea from Hua Zhuyu’s cup.

Ji Fengli reached for the purple clay teapot, filled the cup, and slowly pushed it in front of Hua Zhuyu.

“Why don’t we stop here for today and continue this game tomorrow? Yuan Bao isn’t feeling well and should rest early.” Ji Fengli held his teacup and spoke leisurely.

Hua Zhuyu picked up the teacup and sipped the tea, her clear eyes still focused on the chessboard, though her heart was secretly alarmed. Each of Ji Fengli’s moves appeared casual, as if placed randomly, but looking now, almost none of the white pieces on the board were idle – they all supported each other. It seemed winning against him today wouldn’t be easy. She put down the teacup and rose to leave: “Prime Minister, Yuan Bao will come for instruction again tomorrow!” She stood and withdrew.

Ji Fengli drained his cup of clear tea, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed at the unfinished game on the table, his lips curving in a gentle, tender smile: “Move the chessboard away, but don’t disturb the pieces.”

Lan Bing stared at the smile on Ji Fengli’s lips, his heart sinking deeper and deeper into a bottomless abyss. It was over! Not to mention the Prime Minister – even he thought Yuan Bao and the Prime Minister were well-matched, except Yuan Bao was a man.

Tong Shou entered to report to Ji Fengli: “Prime Minister, Xi Jiangyue’s supply convoy has reached Xiangyu Pass and will arrive soon.”

Ji Fengli nodded: “Tong Shou, take twenty thousand men to escort them. We probably can’t count on the court’s supplies. Winter is approaching soon, and this batch of supplies and winter clothing is very important to us.”

Tong Shou left the tent following orders.

Ji Fengli sat at the table, his expression growing serious as he suddenly said sternly: “Lan Bing, tell Wang Yu that we must suppress news of our great victory over the Northern Army. Send reports to the court about difficult battles and consecutive defeats.”

Lan Bing solemnly replied: “The Prime Minister thinks comprehensively. Those spies and informants have already been eliminated by us. Now those people at court have probably become deaf. However, this way that little emperor will probably live in daily fear.”

Ji Fengli smiled faintly: “Wushang isn’t as fragile as you think. But having him worry is good too – better than letting those people know of our consecutive victories and stage uprisings in the capital.” Now the frontier was in danger and Northern Dynasty people could breach the Southern Dynasty at any time, so those court people didn’t dare act rashly.

“Prime Minister, this subordinate withdraws!” Lan Bing slowly withdrew from Ji Fengli’s tent.

The northern night sky was as quiet as the sea, moonlight casting pale shadows. The military tents looked as if covered with frost and snow under the moonlight.

Ji Fengli made a round of the camp before returning to the supervisor’s tent. He had just sat down to drink a cup of wine when a strange hot surge suddenly rose within his body, which also rapidly heated up. The hot surge flowed from his chest through his dantian, quickly spreading to his limbs. Despite the cold weather, he took out his fan and fanned himself several times but still felt unbearably hot. He loosened his collar and felt his skin – it was frighteningly burning. The hot surge that had flowed through his entire body now concentrated downward, gathering into intense, burning desire.

Ji Fengli’s eyes suddenly turned cold. He was certain he’d been poisoned and quickly had Ji Shui and Ji Yue summon Tang Yu.

Seeing Ji Fengli’s condition, Tang Yu’s heart jumped in alarm. He felt Ji Fengli’s pulse and his expression immediately darkened.

“What poison is this?” Ji Fengli asked coldly, even his voice becoming low and hoarse.

“Green Silk Binding!” Tang Yu said grimly. “This is an aphrodisiac and hallucinogenic poison that must be used for forty-nine days. The poison accumulates in the body to a certain amount before taking effect. Once it takes effect, it cannot be resisted.”

“Forty-nine days?” Ji Fengli’s cold eyes narrowed. Candlelight reflected in his eyes, filled with sharpness. Who could be the poisoner who had lurked beside him for so long?

“Is there an antidote for this poison?” he asked breathlessly.

Tang Yu said anxiously: “Besides a woman there’s no other cure – it cannot be endured by willpower. But there are no women in the military camp now. Someone wants to kill the Prime Minister! Prime Minister, try to restrain yourself. I’ll have Lan Bing go to nearby prefectures to find a woman, hoping we can make it in time. Ji Shui, Ji Yue, you two watch the Prime Minister carefully. I’ll go through medical books to see if there’s a temporary suppression method.”

After speaking, Tang Yu hurriedly withdrew.