These past two days, Hua Zhuyu had been preoccupied with one thing – the unfinished chess game with Ji Fengli. That day’s game seemed carved into her mind. When she had nothing to do, she would lie on her bed thinking through each subsequent move, calculating many steps ahead. She considered various strategies but still couldn’t find a way to decisively crush Ji Fengli’s white pieces. This was the first time she had encountered an evenly matched opponent, thoroughly awakening her competitive spirit. Moreover, whenever she thought of Ji Fengli’s calm, unhurried manner when playing chess with her, it ignited her desire to defeat him utterly.

This evening after dinner, Hua Zhuyu quietly slipped out of her military tent, passed through the small grove beside the camp, and headed toward the mountain behind. She climbed peaks and crossed gullies, walking briefly before reaching a hot spring. This spring was extremely hidden – after accidentally discovering it, she came here to bathe every few days. Having experienced the incident of encountering Ji Fengli at Qingcheng Mountain’s hot spring, she was now more cautious. Fortunately, this spring wasn’t large, so she had set up a rather complex formation.

She slowly walked to the water’s edge, gently removing her clothes and unwrapping the cloth binding her chest before immersing herself in the clear, warm spring water to wash away all physical and mental burdens. After quickly bathing, Hua Zhuyu put on the clothes left on the shore, only then realizing the chest binding cloth had been swept away by the water.

Hua Zhuyu was extremely annoyed, but the night was already deep – probably no one would notice even without binding her chest. She dressed and sat on a rock by the stream, soaking her feet in the spring water with her long hair cascading down, letting the night wind dry her waterfall-like wet hair.

It was already late autumn and the night wind was quite cold. After her black hair dried, Hua Zhuyu twisted it into a small knot and circulated her internal energy for a while. Through these days of recuperation, she felt her internal energy had recovered somewhat. However, she still couldn’t use it freely – she estimated another half month of recovery should restore it completely.

She stood up, dismantled the formation by the water, and leisurely walked down the mountain under cover of night. She deliberately didn’t tie her waist belt – the military uniform was very loose on her, so even without binding her chest, it wouldn’t be noticeable.

The mountain night was extremely beautiful with faint stars and moon, everything emanating a pure tranquility that lifted the spirit. Under such night scenes, Hua Zhuyu calmed her mind and went through that day’s unfinished game again in her head. Suddenly inspiration struck and she thought of a brilliant move. She stopped in her tracks, quickly calculating each subsequent move, discovering she could defeat Ji Fengli utterly with devastating losses.

Hua Zhuyu curved her lips in a smile, couldn’t help whistling and snapping her fingers, quickening her pace as she hurried down the mountain. In moments she reached the military camp. Passing Ji Fengli’s tent, she saw lights still burning inside and quickly walked to the tent entrance, knocking on the pillar by the door. Hearing Ji Fengli’s voice faintly from inside, she lifted the leather curtain and entered. If possible, she wanted to defeat Ji Fengli tonight. Defeating the arrogant Ji Fengli would feel more satisfying than taking an enemy commander’s head on the battlefield.

Only one candle burned in Ji Fengli’s tent, making the light extremely dim. She could vaguely see the unfinished game between her and Ji Fengli still set up on the black sandalwood table.

It seemed Ji Fengli hadn’t slept and was also studying this unfinished game – apparently he hadn’t yet figured out how to defeat her either.

Hua Zhuyu’s clear eyes wandered and she saw Ji Fengli.

Ji Fengli’s appearance startled Hua Zhuyu – she had never seen him like this. Every time she’d seen him before, he was either elegant as wind, calm and composed, or lazy and casual. But now, he seemed to have lost all elegance, composure, and laziness.

He stood with his back to her beside the table, both hands braced on its surface, his ink-black hair unbound and cascading down, obscuring his lowered face. His white clothes were like snow, black hair like ink – stark black and white contrast.

Though there was no wind in the room, his white clothes and black hair danced and fluttered, clearly agitated by internal energy.

“Left Prime Minister…” Hua Zhuyu called out somewhat puzzled and slowly walked toward him. However, after just a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

Because the table Ji Fengli was bracing against began to shake, sometimes lightly, sometimes violently, making the chess pieces on top rattle and causing the dark red wine in cups to splash out and spill across the table like red tears.

Tables don’t shake by themselves – this shaking came from the arms braced upon it.

Ji Fengli’s arms were trembling – uncontrollably trembling!

Hua Zhuyu’s heart grew cold as she quickly retreated two steps.

Just then, Ji Fengli suddenly turned around. He looked sideways at her, his exquisite phoenix eyes seeming to contain two pools of crystalline spring water, misty and confused. His pupils were dilated without focus as he looked at her as if he didn’t recognize her at all.

“Who is it? Leave!” He squinted his phoenix eyes, violently waving his sleeves and speaking incoherently. After speaking, he suddenly tilted his head back, breathing heavily.

“Get out!” Ji Fengli suddenly bent down and grabbed a brocade cushion from the felt carpet, hurling it fiercely toward Hua Zhuyu. The cushion came with tremendous force and speed, instantly reaching her. She quickly ducked and the cushion flew over her head, loosening the hair knot she had just tied. Her body was also knocked back two steps by the cushion’s momentum, and she stumbled over something underfoot, falling to the ground.

Looking down, Hua Zhuyu saw the tent floor near the entrance was covered with thrown objects – brocade cushions and teacups. The tent floor was carpeted with felt, so these items hadn’t broken but were scattered about. She suddenly remembered that when she entered, there hadn’t been a single guard outside – they must have all been driven away by Ji Fengli.

By now, Hua Zhuyu understood that Ji Fengli had been drugged with an aphrodisiac. In the Northern Dynasty, she had also been drugged once and knew this medicine’s effects.

If she didn’t run now, she’d be a fool. She hastily scrambled up from the ground and rushed toward the tent entrance. Her movement was too sudden – the hair knot already loosened by the cushion instantly cascaded down like a waterfall.

Ji Fengli’s misty eyes grew even more confused. Seeing Hua Zhuyu’s scattered black hair, his handsome brows furrowed deeply. A flash of clarity appeared in his eyes as he suddenly flicked his sleeve to extinguish the candle in the tent.

The tent suddenly darkened. The sound of sleeve wind came from behind and her shoulder was instantly grasped – she hadn’t expected Ji Fengli to move so quickly, capturing her in the blink of an eye. In the spinning confusion, she was already pressed against the tent wall.

Hua Zhuyu was alarmed. His hand quickly grasped her chin as a cold voice came from above: “Woman, did Lan Bing send you here?” Though his tone was cold, his voice was hoarse and full of magnetism – Hua Zhuyu knew this was the drug’s effect.

“No, I’m not!” Hua Zhuyu deliberately used her female voice. Ji Fengli was obviously lucid now, but having seen her loose hair earlier, he had taken her for a woman – she couldn’t let him know she was Yuan Bao.

“Not?” The icy voice was full of mockery. “There are no women in the military camp!”

“I… I am…” Hua Zhuyu said quietly, then suddenly struck out with her palm toward Ji Fengli’s chest. Though her internal energy hadn’t fully recovered, at such close range, she believed even Ji Fengli couldn’t withstand this strike.

The palm wind was sharp, instantly touching Ji Fengli’s chest, but in that moment was caught by his large hand. His husky, magnetic voice sounded by her ear: “I really didn’t expect you could fight too! Since you’re here, leaving is impossible. No need to play hard-to-get games. Rest assured, as long as you’re female, no matter what you look like, I’ll have you!”

The husky, magnetic, passionate voice should have been lazily seductive, but his tone was quite stern, as if he himself was unwilling.

Her slender waist was embraced by Ji Fengli, making Hua Zhuyu struggle even more fiercely. She risked the danger of using internal energy, employing all her remaining power, but still couldn’t escape Ji Fengli’s grasp. He pressed a point on her waist and her whole body immediately went limp – the despicable Ji Fengli had sealed her pressure points. In the spinning confusion, he carried her toward the interior. Her chest pressed against his, her mind exploded with sound, her face instantly reddened with shame and anger – oh heavens, what could she do?

She wondered what would happen if she revealed she was Yuan Bao.

There were probably no women in this military camp except her. Must she suffer this loss in silence? Obviously Ji Fengli now thought she was a woman someone else had brought. While he was still conscious, perhaps she should tell him she was Yuan Bao – that way there might still be hope.

“I…” Her throat went mute and the remaining words were immediately choked off, unable to emerge – her mute point had been sealed, preventing speech.

“I hate hearing your voice!” Ji Fengli’s voice came from above, husky and cold.

He swept his arm and a cool breeze passed through the darkness – the brocade quilt from the bed had been spread on the ground.

She was also placed on the ground, lying there for a long time.

In the darkness, Ji Fengli sat beside her, completely motionless, his entire being emanating icy coldness. He seemed to be fighting the drug’s effects – Hua Zhuyu only hoped he could hold out long enough for someone to come.

The night was very quiet. The tent was even more deathly silent without a sound, except for… Ji Fengli’s breathing.

His breathing was sometimes rapid, sometimes slow and heavy. In the deathly quiet tent, it was infinitely amplified, reaching her ears with startling clarity.

Hua Zhuyu could almost judge the aphrodisiac’s progression through his breathing. She heard his breathing become increasingly heavy and rapid, making her feel unprecedented despair. Suddenly, a faint bloody scent reached her nose – she vaguely sensed Ji Fengli had bitten his arm, trying to stay conscious.

The taut string in Hua Zhuyu’s heart relaxed slightly – she thought she might preserve her chastity tonight. Obviously Ji Fengli didn’t want to touch her. Though she had personally witnessed him with other women, she didn’t understand why he was so restrained now, but she was still very grateful for his restraint. At least this gave her a glimmer of hope.

But things didn’t go as imagined. Ji Fengli biting his arm didn’t seem to reduce the drug’s potency at all – his breathing became unprecedentedly heavy and rapid.

In the darkness, she felt the overwhelming masculine presence slowly pressing toward her.

Bit by bit approaching.

Until close at hand.

Until bodies touched.

Until his burning breath sprayed on her cheek, making her face feel scorched by fire.

Her face burned from his breath while her heart cracked open with a wound of despair and desolation, continuously bleeding…

So cold! Her body was cold, her heart even colder.

That day when she sat in the flower sedan being carried to the Prime Minister’s residence, when she sat on the wedding bed under the veil waiting – at that time, she had planned to give herself to him. But fate played tricks, and after several twists and turns, while she still hated him, she was entangled with him in such a way that even wanting to resist was impossible.

She lay on the ground, a desolate smile blooming at her lips.

In the darkness, she vaguely sensed his gaze seemed to burn like fire.

Ji Fengli finally could endure no more and slowly approached her…

In an instant, Hua Zhuyu felt unbearable pain and couldn’t help drawing a sharp breath. Ji Fengli heard this and his body suddenly froze…

Hua Zhuyu cried out angrily but couldn’t make a sound – only her lips unconsciously opening and closing.

Cold wind raged outside the tent, making it rustle loudly, while inside spring passion ran rampant.

Hua Zhuyu suddenly bit down on Ji Fengli’s shoulder, her lips and teeth full of blood but refusing to let go, biting like a wolf.

In the darkness, the scents of desire and blood mingled and spread.

Ji Fengli continuously braced himself with both hands, avoiding unnecessary contact between their bodies.

After an unknown time, Ji Fengli’s movements slowed. He seemed somewhat conscious again – she felt him looking down at her.

Their gazes met in the darkness.

One cold and sharp, one confused and bewildered.

This tent had no windows and was so dark that even at close range faces couldn’t be seen clearly, but she still looked straight at him.

He suddenly stopped all movement. She felt coldness – thick coldness mixed with desolation slowly emanating from Ji Fengli.

Obviously he was completely conscious now. The poison should be neutralized – this was finally over. But the sinful debt between them hadn’t ended.

Ji Fengli, I will kill you!

Someday, I will kill you!

Someday…

She swore silently in her heart.

A choked murmur suddenly came from above.

“Bao’er…”

The voice was very low, very soft, like a sound from the heart’s depths, inadvertently spilling from lips and teeth.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart suddenly grew cold – had Ji Fengli discovered she was Yuan Bao? But it didn’t seem so, because his voice was so desolate, so mournful, carrying indescribable suppression and heaviness.

What right did he have to call her name? Why call her name? A string of crystalline drops fell on her face, burning hot with heart-searing temperature.

In this instant, she seemed bewitched. Like lightning splitting her chaotic mind, some things suddenly became clear, but she still didn’t dare believe. Perhaps he wasn’t calling her at all, just calling his heart’s treasure.

“You can sleep here a while or leave now. Whatever you need, tell whoever brought you here – anything can be satisfied.” He turned over and sat beside her, speaking quietly.

She lay stiffly on the ground, not moving for a long time.

He seemed to realize only then that he had sealed her pressure points. He reached out, groping to find the point on her waist and lightly pressed to unseal it, then freed her mute point with his finger. He turned and slowly walked to the bed, lying down exhaustedly.

Hua Zhuyu lay on the ground. She was very tired, feeling as if all her bones had been scattered, no longer her own from the pain. If possible, she wanted to sleep here, but with rage filling her chest, how could she sleep? How could she sleep here?

After a long time, she endured the pain and slowly crawled up, picking up the scattered clothes from the ground and putting them on piece by piece.

Her mind was blank, thoughts seemingly stopped. She unconsciously walked out, her legs soft as if stepping on cotton.

Outside, the night was so lonely and quiet. The northern night wind was so mournfully cold. She moved with heavy steps to her own tent, changed out of the torn clothes, and bound her chest with a long scarf.

In the dim candlelight, she squinted and looked around, seeing her silver spear. Using the silver spear wouldn’t be satisfying enough – unfortunately, there was no sword.

She lifted the tent flap and walked out, enduring the pain in her body as she slowly walked through the military camp. After passing several tents, she finally saw soldiers standing in the night. The soldiers smiled and greeted her: “Commander Bao, it’s so late – where are you going?”

Hua Zhuyu didn’t respond but walked straight to the nearest soldier and quickly reached out, drawing his large sword from his waist with a swoosh.

A very long, very sharp sword that gleamed with keen light in the cold moonlight, brightening her eyes while their depths held bone-chilling coldness.

She shouldered the large sword and turned to walk back quickly. Behind her came the soldier’s surprised cry: “Commander Bao, what are you doing? My sword?!”

“Borrowing your sword!” Hua Zhuyu said without looking back, walking quickly forward. Rage made her forget her body’s pain. As she approached his tent, she suddenly stopped.

Ji Fengli’s tent entrance was wide open with candlelight streaming out. She saw Lan Bing and a woman emerge from the tent.

Lan Bing handed several silver ingots to the woman, saying with a smile: “Sorry to have troubled the young lady to make this trip in vain. Please accept this silver – I’ll have someone escort you back. This silver is enough for you to find a good husband, much better than being our master’s concubine.” The woman accepted the silver and reluctantly got into a carriage.

Hua Zhuyu hid behind a tent – this woman must be the one Lan Bing had found to cure Ji Fengli’s aphrodisiac, and she had taken this woman’s place.

Such unspeakable sadness!

She suddenly didn’t want to attack Ji Fengli anymore – a gentleman’s revenge, even ten years isn’t too late. After calming down, she realized she couldn’t expose her female identity. But she would remember this debt.

Tang Yu and Lan Bing stood outside the tent, both looking puzzled.

“Who exactly cured the Prime Minister’s aphrodisiac? The Prime Minister thought it was a woman I found. Who could it be? There are no women in the military camp!” Lan Bing frowned, unable to understand.

“Who says there are no women in the camp? There’s one right now!” A rough voice came over.

The two looked up to see Tong Shou walking over through the night, travel-worn. Tong Shou hadn’t been in camp these past days, leading troops to escort Xi Jiangyue’s grain convoy.

“Tong Shou, you say there’s a woman in the camp – who?” Tang Yu asked puzzledly.

“I went to escort Xi Jiangyue’s grain convoy, but unexpectedly Fourth Miss personally escorted it. After I met her, she rode ahead to the camp. Since I’ve arrived, she must have arrived long ago.” Tong Shou said puzzledly.

“She came?” Lan Bing asked dazedly. “She really came?”

“Absolutely certain she arrived long ago. Don’t you know? Maybe she didn’t arrive and something happened?” Tong Shou said puzzledly.

“Quickly send a soldier to inquire.” Lan Bing said anxiously.

Tong Shou left and soon returned with large strides. “I sent soldiers to investigate. They say she arrived early and Nangong Jue arranged a tent for her – she’s already resting.”

“She really came, which means, which means…” Lan Bing’s lips trembled, unable to speak for a long time.

“Tong Shou, you go first. We two will check on the Prime Minister.” Tang Yu said quietly.

Ji Fengli sat beside the table, head lowered looking at the unfinished game. His slender fingers slowly touched each chess piece. The tent’s dim candlelight made his pale face half bright, half dark.

“Rong Si has come! Tong Shou said she arrived long ago. I just sent someone to investigate – I heard Nangong Jue arranged a tent for her and she’s already sleeping.” Tang Yu spoke slowly, word by word.

Ji Fengli suddenly looked up, his ink-black eyes flashing with extremely cold light as he stared fixedly at Tang Yu, quietly asking: “What did you say?”

“An’Rong has come!” Tang Yu said.

“When did she arrive?” Ji Fengli’s hand trembled as he asked with narrowed eyes.

“She arrived at nightfall and is already resting.” Tang Yu said quietly.

Thud…

A soft sound – the black piece in Ji Fengli’s hand fell to the ground.

He sat stunned for a long time, then suddenly collapsed onto the felt carpet. The table behind him was knocked over, the wine pot fell to the ground, and bright red wine immediately spilled everywhere.

This red reminded him of the blood on the brocade quilt, filling him with deep guilt. Even though he thought the other party was just a courtesan Lan Bing had found from a brothel, even though they had just a physical transaction, even though he originally held courtesans in contempt, he still felt very guilty.

But ultimately, the greater shock was that she wasn’t a courtesan at all – she was actually…

“Which damned person poisoned the Prime Minister?” Lan Bing gnashed his teeth hatefully.

“Investigate!” Ji Fengli coldly spat out two words.

Tang Yu examined Ji Fengli’s remaining evening meal but found no Green Silk Binding. He took a silver needle, heated it over the candle flame, but the needle didn’t change color. He frowned puzzledly – where was this poison administered and who had done it?

“Prime Minister, those who can approach the supervisor’s tent are, besides us few and Ji Shui, Ji Yue, only Yuan Bao as an outsider.” Lan Bing said carefully.

“That boy – I’ve long suspected he would harm the Prime Minister. After all, he’s Huangfu Wushuang’s person.”

“He does hate me, but he’s not that kind of petty person. If he wanted to kill me, he’d come directly with a sword.” Ji Fengli didn’t look up, speaking coldly with narrowed eyes. Under the dim candlelight, his face was pale and cold, his ink pupils deep and quiet, but the depths held silent, bone-piercing pain. He picked up a black piece and placed it in his palm. Under the dim candlelight, in his pale palm, that black piece was startlingly black, gleaming with cold light.

Lan Bing frowned, unable to understand why the Prime Minister was so certain it wasn’t Yuan Bao. It seemed that since arriving on the battlefield, the Prime Minister’s attitude toward Yuan Bao had completely changed.

“Prime Minister, we’ve found it – the Green Silk Binding was in the candles. This poison needs forty-nine days, so each candle contains very little toxicity that silver needles can’t detect. Only when encountering blood does the toxicity intensify and reveal itself.” Tang Yu reported. “This batch of candles was probably tampered with before purchase.”

Lan Bing nodded: “I didn’t expect they would use such despicable methods to harm the Prime Minister.”

Ji Fengli slowly closed his eyes, thick lashes hiding the coldness within. If those people only wanted him to die from poison, why use an aphrodisiac?

Hua Zhuyu fell ill.

In the early morning, when she awoke and tried to get up from the bed, her arms went weak and she collapsed powerlessly back onto the bed. Her forehead burned as if on fire.

Since she could remember, Hua Zhuyu was mostly injured but rarely fell ill. Even with minor ailments, they never prevented her from practicing martial arts or leading troops. But this illness came fiercely, knocking her down at once.

Her chest throbbed with waves of pain, and an irrepressible sweetness surged in her throat. A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out unexpectedly, shockingly splattering on her clothes.

She gasped heavily, staring blankly at that bright red, suddenly feeling her heart torn apart as pain flooded over her like a bursting dam. Tears could no longer be suppressed, rushing from her eyes and rolling down.

“Father, I can’t hold on anymore!” She lay on the bed, letting tears pour out unstoppably.

Footsteps sounded outside the tent, followed by knocking: “Commander Bao, are you awake? Time for breakfast.”

It was the cook who delivered her meals daily. During this period while her internal energy was damaged, a cook had been specially assigned to bring her food.

“Wait a moment.” Hua Zhuyu called hoarsely, her throat also aching painfully. She struggled to get up from the bed, cleaned up the blood on the ground, then held her forehead and opened the door.

The cook walked straight in and placed the meal on the table in the tent. Turning back to see Hua Zhuyu’s appearance, he was greatly startled: “Commander Bao, are you ill?”

Hua Zhuyu coughed lightly: “Probably caught a cold. Go get some medicine from the military physician. Don’t tell anyone about this, alright?”

“Commander Bao, if you’re ill you should have the military physician examine you. How can you take random medicine?” The cook was an honest man.

“It’s nothing serious. I know some medicine and understand my condition. Go quickly. Thank you!” Hua Zhuyu sat on the bed and spoke slowly.

Seeing this, the cook quickly left.

Hua Zhuyu sat on the bed breathing rapidly, feeling even her exhaled breath was burning hot. But she was fairly clear about her condition. Though not a physician, having spent long in the army, she knew most common ailments. She knew she had caught a cold, plus yesterday’s excessive anger had injured her liver fire and lung qi.

The cook moved quickly and soon returned with medicine: “Commander Bao, looking at you, I’m afraid you can’t brew medicine yourself. Let me do it. Or should I tell the Prime Minister to assign two guards to attend you?”

“Good, thank you. But don’t tell the Prime Minister – he’s very busy. I can manage myself without attendants.” Hua Zhuyu smiled weakly.

Helplessly, the cook put the medicine in a pot, added water, and placed it on the small stove to brew. After a while, the medicine pot began bubbling. He lowered the flame and turned back with a smile: “Commander Bao, brew for one more incense stick’s time and it’ll be ready. I’ll go back now and check on you when I bring lunch.”

Hua Zhuyu nodded, and the cook slowly withdrew. She leaned against the bed for a long time. When the medicine in the pot was about ready, she struggled to get up and slowly moved to the stove. Just as she picked up the medicine pot, her head spun and her hands suddenly went weak. With a crash, the pot fell to the ground, scalding medicine splashing on Hua Zhuyu’s feet and legs, causing burning pain.

Her body went limp and she nearly collapsed. The tent door suddenly opened and a figure entered. Seeing the situation, he immediately walked quickly over and caught Hua Zhuyu. He frowned and asked: “What’s wrong? Are you ill?”

Hua Zhuyu opened her heavy eyelids and saw it was Ping. She said hoarsely: “Ill. Help me brew another bowl of medicine.”

Ping’s face was grim as he helped Hua Zhuyu to the bed, took a towel, dampened it with water, and placed it on her forehead. He skillfully began brewing medicine. Soon the medicine was ready. After letting it cool, he brought it to Hua Zhuyu: “How did you get like this? Can’t even brew medicine when ill? Wasn’t Ji Fengli taking good care of you recently, having the cook specially make food for you? Otherwise how could I be so at ease?”

Hua Zhuyu took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one go, breathing heavily: “Ping, I’ll sleep a while. Stay here and don’t let anyone in.” She just wanted to sleep properly now – only with Ping guarding could she rest peacefully.

She didn’t know how long she slept. When she woke, she saw Ping guarding beside the bed, smiling at her. Having someone watching felt truly good.

“Ah Ping, I feel much better. Go back first, don’t let anyone discover you. This place is close to Ji Fengli’s supervisor tent – it would be terrible if discovered.” Hua Zhuyu said quietly.

“I know, I’ll leave now. You should move to Tiger Roar Battalion soon – at least I’m also a Tiger Roar Battalion soldier. It would be convenient for me to find you there.” Ping frowned.

Hua Zhuyu nodded: “Good!”

“There’s something I discovered – a batch of military grain was transported here, but not sent by the court – it was collected by Xi Jiangyue.”

“Xi Jiangyue? The Xi Jiangyue established by Southern White Phoenix Rong Luo?” Hua Zhuyu asked with furrowed brows.

Rong Luo was very mysterious in the world’s eyes. Hua Zhuyu knew little about him. She had only heard Dan Hong mention that he established a pavilion called “Xi Jiangyue.” On the sixth day of each month, common people needing help could bring requests to Xi Jiangyue, and he would send subordinates to collect them. Anyone with difficulties or tasks they couldn’t accomplish could write them down. If he could manage it, he would accept the request and get it done.

When Dan Hong first mentioned the world’s four most outstanding men, she remembered laughingly asking: “Southern White Phoenix – why does he rank first? Though this general isn’t great, I at least serve country and people, guard frontiers, and bravely kill enemies. How do I rank behind him? Too unfair!”

Dan Hong said: “Though Southern White Phoenix doesn’t guard frontiers, he does concrete, detailed good works, solving people’s urgent needs and worrying about their worries – more practical than your frontier guarding.”

“Xi Jiangyue takes helping people as its mission. Preparing some military grain isn’t strange, and Xi Jiangyue is wealthy enough to rival nations – this grain is just a drop in the bucket.” Hua Zhuyu said casually.

“I heard Southern White Phoenix Rong Luo personally delivered it. I discovered this accidentally – the camp soldiers don’t know. I think the Left Prime Minister and Xi Jiangyue might have close relations, otherwise why would Rong Luo come personally?” Ping whispered.

“Rong Luo came?” Hua Zhuyu’s heart stopped, her eyes narrowing. This was unexpected – Southern White Phoenix Rong Luo had quietly come to the military camp.

“Good, I understand. Leave quickly.” Hua Zhuyu waved.

Ping slowly rose. Before leaving, he said uneasily: “Remember, move to Tiger Roar Battalion soon. If I hadn’t come today and you collapsed here, no one would know.”

Hua Zhuyu nodded. Ping sighed and quietly withdrew from the tent.

Ji Fengli walked through rows of tents to a small tent. He stood at the entrance for a long time without entering, until a servant opened the tent door to pour water and saw Ji Fengli standing outside.

The servant quickly stopped and bowed deeply to Ji Fengli: “This servant greets the Prime Minister.”

Ji Fengli nodded coldly: “Where is she?”

“Inside.” The servant hesitated momentarily: “Prime Minister, something’s wrong with the young lady. She returned from outside last night unable to sleep, sitting there weeping. She only slept at dawn and just got up. When asked what’s wrong, she won’t say.” The servant spoke articulately.

Ji Fengli nodded with a bland expression, but his hands trembled slightly within his wide sleeves as he walked silently into the tent.

A woman in men’s clothing sat beside a low table on felt carpeting. Her hair was unbound, long black hair cascading like a waterfall, gleaming like flowing springs in the tent’s dim light.

Ji Fengli narrowed his eyes. Last night’s memories were chaotic and blurred, like reflections in disturbed water that he couldn’t grasp. But this hair he remembered very clearly. His heart shook and his legs suddenly felt leaden, unable to take another step.

Hearing his footsteps, the woman turned toward him. Her loose black hair made her face appear somewhat pale, but this didn’t diminish her beauty. Graceful long brows, a high straight nose, deep beautiful eyes – this was a woman with slight heroic bearing. But now her eyes held crystalline moisture, appearing pitiful and touching in her graceful demeanor.

She held a wine cup in her hands. Seeing Ji Fengli, her expression immediately shook, her already pale face becoming white as snow. In her dark pupils, mist gradually gathered. Her delicate brows furrowed as she suddenly tilted her head back and drained the cup. She turned back, reached for the wine pot to fill the cup, about to drink again.

Suddenly snow-white sleeves flew as Ji Fengli’s hand pressed down on the cup, looking at her with narrowed eyes: “Why drink wine?”

The woman looked up and smiled desolately: “I just want to drink until completely drunk, so I can forget things I shouldn’t remember!”

Ji Fengli’s hand pressing the cup trembled. With a crack, the white porcelain cup shattered from his excessive force, wine and fragments scattering.

“Last night… was it you?” He forced himself to stay calm, his lips moving. After a long time, this sentence trembled out.

The woman looked up at him with extremely complex expression, murmuring: “I originally wanted to give the Prime Minister a surprise, but unexpectedly…” Two clear tears flowed from her eyes, slowly sliding down her cheeks.

“Si’er…” Ji Fengli hesitated for a long time, finally tremblingly reaching out to wipe away the tears on Rong Si’s cheeks one by one. He spread his arms and embraced her, gently patting her shoulder: “It’s alright!”

He held her standing there. In that instant, all luck and hope vanished. His body’s strength seemed suddenly drained as sorrow and despair surged out, condensing into bone-chilling cold in his chest.

Rong Si in his arms suddenly seemed to remember something and forcefully pushed Ji Fengli away: “Prime Minister, don’t mind me. I’m fine – you should go.”

Rong Si turned and slowly walked to sit on the bed, deep desolation in her heart.

Last night she had originally planned to secretly see the Prime Minister and give him a surprise. But she never expected that when she approached the tent entrance full of joy, she would hear ambiguous sounds from inside. She covered her mouth, hiding outside the tent for a long time, until she saw a disheveled man in military uniform emerge from the tent. She didn’t see his face, but from his messy clothes she guessed what had happened inside.

Like a thunderbolt from clear skies, she nearly fainted. She never imagined that the Prime Minister, who seemed pure as the bright moon to her, would be with a man.

In that moment, she wished she had never come to the military camp, never seen this scene. She desperately wanted to dig out that instant’s memory, but even after drinking, she still remembered clearly. She couldn’t help repeatedly imagining scenes of the Prime Minister with that man, nearly collapsing.

Ji Fengli stood for a long time before slowly moving to the bedside, asking word by word in a heavy voice: “Si’er, are you willing… still willing to be my wife? Willing to forgive me?”

Rong Si sat blankly on the bed. After a long time, she raised her face from the bed and stared blankly at Ji Fengli.

The Prime Minister’s words shocked her more than what she had seen last night.

He actually wanted to marry her? Her love for him had never been hidden – he always knew. But he had also firmly rejected her. Yet why? Why did he suddenly say this now?

Rong Si raised her head from the bed, looking somewhat confused at Ji Fengli. Seeing the deep sorrow in his eyes, she suddenly understood somewhat. Actually, the Prime Minister probably didn’t want to be deeply trapped in this forbidden love either.

“I… may I?” she asked tremblingly, still disbelieving.

Ji Fengli smiled slightly, his lips curving beautifully, gentle light shining in his brilliant phoenix eyes: “What, Si’er is unwilling?”

Rong Si’s face unconsciously reddened. She lowered her head, wiped away tears, slowly walked before him, and entered his embrace, saying softly: “I’m willing.”

Ji Fengli held her, a flash of sharpness crossing his eyes, but his heart seemed to have a great hole torn in it. Wind seemed to blow through – cold and empty, hollowly without anchor.

Hua Zhuyu lay on the bed, her mind occasionally conjuring the news Ping brought – Rong Luo had come.

Last time in Qingcheng, Rong Luo had bid to buy the so-called Dan Hong, seemingly having vague interest in Ying Shuxie.

These things made her suspicious.

Southern White Phoenix Rong Luo – why did he do this? It seemed she needed to find a way to investigate this person.

Hua Zhuyu lay on the bed drowsily when someone knocked: “Commander Bao, are you inside?”

Hua Zhuyu called out: “What is it?”

“The Prime Minister orders Commander Bao to immediately pack and move to Tiger Roar Battalion.” The guard outside said loudly.

“I understand!” This saved her from requesting it. Ping had worried Ji Fengli wouldn’t let her move, but unexpectedly he was driving her away. She had just worried about last night’s events – whether Ji Fengli knowing that the woman Lan Bing found hadn’t cured his aphrodisiac might suspect her. Now it seemed he didn’t.

This was truly good – she needn’t worry anymore. She rose and packed her few military uniforms, not forgetting to take the torn uniform from last night. After packing, she forced herself up and walked out of the tent.

Today was very sunny with the sun hanging directly overhead. Hua Zhuyu suddenly emerging from the tent squinted in the bright sunlight, taking time to steady herself before slowly walking through the camp. Her head felt heavy as if not her own, as if another soul in her body was replacing her, floating lightly forward.

She never thought she’d be defeated by illness. She sighed lightly, then suddenly stumbled and fell. The guard walking ahead quickly caught her, asking with concern: “Commander Bao, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Hua Zhuyu said weakly, feeling the soldier supporting her tremble and immediately become solemn.

Hua Zhuyu stiffened somewhat, looking up puzzledly. Ji Fengli walked slowly toward them with Nangong Jue, stopping abruptly upon seeing her.

White robes in brilliant sunlight were ice-cold, like white snow in the depths of winter. His face was also cold as if snow-covered, but his gaze toward her held some infatuation, some heartache, some sorrow…

“Prime Minister, Commander Bao is ill. May this subordinate fetch a horse?” The guard quickly saluted and asked.

“Good!” He replied casually. All emotions in his phoenix eyes disappeared without trace. Looking at her again, his gaze seemed to span thousands of mountains and rivers – so distant that one could no longer read his feelings.

Hua Zhuyu supported herself on the guard’s arm, steadying herself with a faint smile on her face, just like every previous meeting with Ji Fengli. But her hands in wide sleeves slowly clenched into fists – so tight her nails nearly pierced flesh. After a long time, she slowly relaxed them and looked up: “Yuan Bao thanks the Prime Minister.” Her tone was deliberately emotionless.

Ji Fengli hummed coldly, with difficulty slowly moving his gaze from Hua Zhuyu, resolutely turning to walk past her. His robes fluttered, that clear cold white drifting past like falling snow.

The guard brought a horse and helped Hua Zhuyu mount. The horse carried her slowly away.

“Commander Bao seems quite seriously ill.” Nangong Jue said with furrowed brows. That pale, haggard appearance was truly hard to bear seeing.

He turned back to look at the Prime Minister, his heart suddenly cold. The heartache in the Prime Minister’s eyes was so intense, like a bursting flood. But in just an instant, those dark eyes became like snow falling on a cold pond – ice-cold and deathly still.

“How could someone who leads troops in battle be easily defeated by illness?” Ji Fengli said casually, quickly walking into the tent.

Hua Zhuyu returned to Tiger Roar Battalion.

Tiger Roar Battalion soldiers cared for her extremely thoughtfully. The eight lieutenants needless to say – they spared no effort bringing and brewing medicine. Soldiers competed to care for her, especially those Hua Zhuyu had saved at the valley, even fighting over it.

Finally, a Tiger Roar Battalion lieutenant, fearing it would affect Hua Zhuyu’s recovery, assigned two soldiers to care for her and drove the rest away. The military camp didn’t lack medicine – good medicines and tonics were all used for her.

Hua Zhuyu’s illness lasted over half a month. When she emerged from the tent after half a month, she felt as if lifetimes had passed.

She stood by the small river looking into the distance. The sky was high and far, distant mountains misty, the setting sun perfectly round – the northern scenery gave one a sense of magnificent grandeur.

In the sky, a lone hawk glided from the clouds, sometimes circling, sometimes diving, as if pursuing something or hoping for something. Watching that proudly aloof hawk, Hua Zhuyu’s heart filled with desolate melancholy. She felt like that lonely hawk, soaring in vast cloud seas.

After half a month of illness, it was now early winter. Northern winds grew sharper, making her military uniform flutter loudly. The serious illness had made her even thinner, the uniform appearing even larger on her.

During her long illness, the Southern and Northern Dynasties had fought several more battles, though relatively small engagements with both sides winning and losing. Many things had happened in the military camp, most surprising being the addition of a woman called Rong Si.

Hua Zhuyu was very interested in this Rong Si but strangely extremely reluctant to meet the woman or even hear news of her. She vaguely sensed her remaining by Ji Fengli’s side might relate to curing the aphrodisiac that night. She didn’t know what relationship this Rong Si had with Rong Luo. She had originally planned to investigate Rong Luo, but unfortunately fell seriously ill. According to Ping’s intelligence, Rong Luo stayed in the camp less than two days before leaving.

This was quite regrettable. But Southern White Phoenix Rong Luo was so mysterious that investigating him wouldn’t be easy. This matter required long-term planning.

Hua Zhuyu quickly devoted all energy to martial practice and training soldiers.

In martial arts, she still wasn’t strong enough.

Xiao Yin had practiced some strange skill – she was no match for him.

Ji Fengli’s martial arts were unfathomable – she was no match for him either.

As for Dou Qianjin, she hadn’t fought him and wasn’t sure, but his three large copper coins seemed difficult to handle.

She thought her title as one of the four most outstanding men came from brilliant military achievements, but in single combat she needed strengthening. Besides desperately practicing martial arts, she taught Tiger Roar Battalion soldiers formations and strategy. Only by keeping busy could she temporarily forget things she didn’t want to remember.

On the open field, northern winds howled.

Dozens of cavalry formed an arrow-shaped formation, rapidly charging forward.

This was a breakthrough formation commonly used by army soldiers, but Hua Zhuyu combined it with Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, instantly increasing its power. On battlefields, victory didn’t always come from superior numbers – sometimes formations played crucial roles.

Hua Zhuyu led fifty cavalry forward while six lieutenants led hundreds of soldiers to surround them in circle after circle, airtight encirclement.

“Commander Bao, can we break through?” Two lieutenants on Hua Zhuyu’s left and right asked worriedly.

Hua Zhuyu’s phoenix eyes narrowed as she shouted coldly: “On the battlefield, you must believe in yourself!”

She lowered her body, pressing tightly against the horse’s back. This could avoid enemy arrows, prevent falling from the horse, and was excellent for rapid charging. Her silver spear wasn’t idle, bringing sharp winds to deflect thrusting weapons one by one.

Dozens of cavalry followed her, charging left and right through heavy encirclement, finally like a sharp sword tearing through curtains, successfully breaking out with fierce, intimidating momentum.

After successful breakthrough, Hua Zhuyu reined in her horse and turned back. Sunset cast its final light lovingly on her, adding a touch of red to her pale face. In her clear dark eyes shone a proud, stubborn light. She caught her breath and gently wiped sweat from her forehead – her back was soaked with perspiration. After days of illness, her body was much weaker and needed more practice.

“The Prime Minister comes to inspect!” Some soldier suddenly shouted.

All soldiers immediately perked up, looking into the distance.

Upon hearing “Prime Minister,” Hua Zhuyu transformed into an unsheathed blade, sharp-edged and threatening. She lowered her hand wiping sweat and turned on horseback to look into the distance with narrowed eyes.

On the distant high slope, two figures indeed stood against the wind. One white figure stood tall, apparently having been there for some time.

Hua Zhuyu smiled coldly and was about to look away when her gaze suddenly focused, stopping on the red figure beside Ji Fengli. Undoubtedly a woman – in this military camp, only women wore red robes. This must be the woman called Rong Si. Unexpectedly, both had come to inspect together.

Hua Zhuyu looked with narrowed eyes, her heart mixed with complex feelings, just like watching Wen Wan beside Xiao Yin outside Yang Pass city. Unfortunately, the distance was too far to see the woman’s appearance clearly.

Since moving to Tiger Roar Battalion, she heard Ji Fengli had also moved from the military camp to live in Yang Pass city. This Rong Si had reportedly moved with him.

Hua Zhuyu stared at those white and red figures, love, hate, emotion, and enmity surging in her heart. She slightly raised her lips in a cold smile.

Ji Fengli, between you and me.

Either your fresh blood blooms on my blade’s edge, or my hot blood sprays on your plain fan.

She withdrew her gaze and commanded: “Next team, form ranks!”

Immediately another fifty soldiers assembled in the formation Hua Zhuyu taught. She spurred her horse to the team and led soldiers in formation practice, from offensive formations to defensive arrays, practicing everything.

She galloped through the ranks, her proud figure like a soaring hawk in the sky.