After Meng Kuo coaxed Wei Shi back home, the next day she brought apology gifts and that Persian beauty to the general’s mansion.

Lu Zhuo was at the military camp, so Wei Rao had Wei Shi invited to the reception hall.

Wei Rao was only twenty this year, while Wei Shi was exactly forty—a full generation’s difference between them.

Wei Shi had already learned from Meng Kuo that the newly appointed Ganzhou army commander was a young noble heir, and the commander’s wife was the daughter born between Consort De and her former husband before entering the palace. The Emperor, loving the house and its crow, had specially enfeoffed her as princess. However, just as Meng Kuo hadn’t taken a young man seriously, Wei Shi also hadn’t paid much attention to that princess.

Who knew that the princess hadn’t even established her footing in Ganzhou City before slightly provoking their marital relationship? Fortunately, the princess had no ill intent, and the Persian beauty she arranged immediately confessed everything truthfully upon seeing Wei Shi. Otherwise, Wei Shi really wouldn’t have simply believed her husband. She could tolerate anything except her husband touching other women.

The princess was clever, but if the princess harbored malice, Wei Shi would resent her. Since the princess only gave her husband a small lesson, Wei Shi not only didn’t hate her but also admired the princess’s spirited temperament of swift revenge.

“I’ve long heard the princess’s beautiful reputation, but only upon meeting today do I know the rumors weren’t false. There truly are fairy-like figures in this world.”

After formal greetings, Wei Shi smiled and praised Wei Rao.

Though Wei Shi was forty years old, her eyes were bright and lively, unlike some noble wives in the capital who only brought to mind words like virtuous and proper. In Wei Rao’s eyes, Wei Shi wore brightly colored clothing and pearl ornaments—a beautiful woman who refused to acknowledge her age. Indeed, Wei Shi was truly lovely, appearing only in her thirties.

According to the intelligence Zhao Bai had gathered, Wei Shi was Ganzhou City’s famous beauty and a jealous wife. As long as Vice General Meng didn’t philander outside, Wei Shi was gentle and considerate. But once Vice General Meng had romantic affairs, Wei Shi would transform into a fierce lioness and create uproar with him. Reportedly, a Persian merchant wanting to flatter Vice General Meng had once presented him with a stunning Persian beauty along with a golden house to keep her. Vice General Meng was tempted but wary of Wei Shi. When Wei Shi discovered this during his hesitation, she bought the house next to that golden house and moved in a fair-skinned, red-lipped actor, declaring that if Vice General Meng went to meet the Persian beauty, she would also go meet that tender-skinned actor.

Vice General Meng flew into a rage and drove away both the Persian beauty and the actor, along with banishing that Persian merchant from Ganzhou City.

Wei Shi admired Wei Rao, and Wei Rao admired Wei Shi.

Though twenty years apart in age, they hit it off immediately.

“I could make Vice General Meng suffer thanks to Madam. Without Madam keeping Vice General Meng in check, my method would have been useless,” Wei Rao spoke honestly.

Wei Shi laughed: “Princess needn’t worry. I have no other abilities, but dealing with him is more than sufficient. If he dares offend the princess again in the future, the princess needs only send me word, and I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”

Wei Rao smiled and agreed.

When Lu Zhuo returned that evening, he asked how Wei Rao had gotten along with Wei Shi.

Wei Rao said, “Madam Meng has a forthright nature yet loves beauty. We got along very well. I gave her a set of ‘Flower Yearning’ rouge, which she treasured. She promised to introduce me to a Persian merchant who has many exquisite items unique to the Western Regions.”

Seeing her animated and seemingly anticipatory expression, Lu Zhuo felt relieved. He would need to stay at the military camp regularly, possibly returning only once a month. Having friendly acquaintances to visit in Ganzhou City would prevent Wei Rao from being too bored.

Wei Rao asked curiously: “Only once a month? Is something happening at the military camp?”

Lu Zhuo nodded.

The Ganzhou army totaled two hundred thousand, responsible for guarding Great Qi’s northwestern frontier. To ensure the army’s combat effectiveness, each commander had their training methods. Upon Lu Zhuo’s arrival, Meng Kuo had told him that regardless of how Ganzhou army commanders trained troops, the Ganzhou army had a tradition of war exercises held each May and October, with the two hundred thousand troops participating in two batches.

Meng Kuo proposed to Lu Zhuo that for May’s war exercise, he and Lu Zhuo should each lead fifty thousand soldiers in a decisive battle.

This was undoubtedly Meng Kuo’s challenge to Lu Zhuo. If Lu Zhuo defeated Meng Kuo, he would earn the Meng Kuo and the Ganzhou army. If he lost…

“Are you confident?” Wei Rao asked worriedly. Meng Kuo knew the Ganzhou army inside and out, while Lu Zhuo had just arrived. With only two months until mid-May’s war exercise, in such a brief time, Lu Zhuo needed both to familiarize himself with the Ganzhou army and make fifty thousand Ganzhou soldiers cooperate with his training methods—truly no easy task.

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Just wait and see.”

Wei Rao’s heart stirred. She grasped his hand: “Can I come with you during the war exercise?”

Lu Zhuo gripped her hand in return: “As long as you don’t fear sun exposure.”

Wei Rao wasn’t afraid at all. She probably couldn’t visit a real battlefield, but watching Lu Zhuo host a war exercise would be fine. If Lu Zhuo’s fifty thousand troops could beat Meng Kuo’s side into defeat, that would be even better.

“Just stay at the military camp. Don’t worry about me,” Wei Rao supported him wholeheartedly.

Lu Zhuo kissed her and said apologetically, “After this exercise ends, I’ll have more leisure time. Then I’ll accompany you to explore this area more.”

The Ganzhou region had complex terrain—snow mountains, forests, grasslands, lakes—various wonders gathered in one place. Lu Zhuo had long yearned to see them and wanted to take Wei Rao along for sightseeing.

Lu Zhuo formally moved into the military camp and began personally training one hundred thousand Ganzhou troops.

First, training one hundred thousand, then selecting fifty thousand from them to participate in the war exercise two months later. The other one hundred thousand would be trained by Vice General Meng.

These one hundred thousand troops were commanded by ten Deputy Generals. Lu Zhuo had met all ten when he dined at the Meng residence. Six were very cooperative, but four senior Deputy Generals repeatedly questioned him and refused to follow Lu Zhuo’s battle formations.

Lu Zhuo had these four Deputy Generals each select an elite hundred-man squad and, using the formations they took pride in, compete against his one hundred Shenwu Army personal guards.

The Shenwu Army ranked first among the four armies and was the premier of all imperial guards. Every Shenwu Army soldier was one in a thousand. However, the Ganzhou army was also a mighty force. Each Deputy General commanded ten thousand men, and selecting one hundred elites from them, in terms of individual combat ability, they wouldn’t lose to Lu Zhuo’s hundred men. So, such contests were quite fair.

Yet after four rounds of competition, even the strongest among the four Deputy Generals’ hundred-man squads only lasted half an hour against the Shenwu Army.

At this point, the four Deputy Generals were completely convinced.

Lu Zhuo’s training of the Ganzhou army kept him busy from dawn to dusk. Battle formations were easy to understand when explained, but required perfect coordination with fellow soldiers to unleash maximum power, like a human body with four limbs, each hand and foot having five fingers. If any part had problems, the entire person’s combat ability would be weakened to varying degrees.

While Lu Zhuo was busy training, Wei Rao grew increasingly bored in Ganzhou City.

Naturally, there were many interesting places inside and outside Ganzhou City, but Wei Rao’s heart wasn’t there. She wanted to watch Lu Zhuo and Meng Kuo’s armies face off in competition, and even more wanted to see how Lu Zhuo trained his troops. Previously, Wei Rao practiced martial arts to strengthen her body and preserve her life when facing schemes. However, in this rough, magnificent frontier stronghold, knowing Lu Zhuo was training armies, Wei Rao’s heart suddenly became wilder—martial practice only improved individuals, but she also wanted to train and lead troops.

This wasn’t a pipe dream. History had female generals, too.

Since predecessors could lead troops in battle, why couldn’t she? She knew swordsmanship, her husband was heir to the premier Shenwu Army—with such excellent conditions, wouldn’t it be a waste not to utilize them properly during this frontier trip?

On this day, Lu Zhuo was inspecting soldiers’ training when a messenger suddenly ran over and quietly reported something.

Lu Zhuo’s expression changed slightly. He ordered Zhao Song to bring Fei Mo, mounted, and headed straight for the camp gate.

Approaching the gate, Lu Zhuo saw from afar a person and a horse standing outside. The horse was Wei Rao’s eye-catching white steed, and the person was naturally Wei Rao in male attire—skin white as jade, bright eyes, and white teeth. Seeing him, she smiled brilliantly.

Lu Zhuo looked behind her—not a single guard.

His expression immediately darkened.

Exiting the camp, Lu Zhuo had Wei Rao mount up. After the couple rode some distance, Lu Zhuo asked sternly: “Why did you come alone?”

Wei Rao smiled: “I didn’t come alone—I only had the guards return when approaching the military camp.”

Only then did Lu Zhuo’s expression soften.

He wasn’t angry anymore, but Wei Rao glared at him and snorted: “You’ve been here half a month. I missed you and came to see you, yet you’re displeased. Since that’s the case, I might as well return.”

With that, Wei Rao prepared to spur her horse away.

Lu Zhuo urged Fei Mo to block her path and said helplessly, “You should understand I’m only worried about you. Why provoke me with words?”

Wei Rao lifted her chin slightly and turned her head away.

Lu Zhuo smiled and leaned over: “Did you miss me?”

Wei Rao glanced at him, then suddenly smiled like a blooming flower, lowering her head with myriad charms as if unwilling to admit it.

Lu Zhuo’s throat moved. Since she was already here, Lu Zhuo said, “Come on, let’s go to my tent to talk.”

Lu Zhuo’s commander’s tent was incredibly impressive, divided into inner and outer sections, each as spacious as two rooms.

Having Zhao Song stand guard outside, Lu Zhuo walked ahead with a composed expression while Wei Rao followed like a young soldier.

Upon entering the tent, Lu Zhuo immediately swept Wei Rao into his arms. Wei Rao struggled lightly, but thinking of the lonely nights over the past half month, she couldn’t help hooking his neck and only giving him a gentle reproachful glance.

A brief separation was better than being newlyweds. Being in this forbidden military camp, the dignified Commander Lu probably felt ashamed and performed far below his usual standard, soon surrendering in Wei Rao’s tender embrace.

He was naturally unsatisfied. Wei Rao buried herself in the bedding, laughing until her whole body shook. While laughing, Lu Zhuo suddenly covered her again, thoughtfully covering Wei Rao’s mouth to muffle her surprised cry.

Outside the tent, patrolling camp soldiers passed by with uniform footsteps.

On the training ground, soldiers were busy drilling, occasionally sending forth mighty battle cries.

To Wei Rao, all this was so novel.

But to Lu Zhuo, military camp life was already imprinted in his bones and blood. Rather, it was Wei Rao before him—Wei Rao visiting him at camp, Wei Rao lying in his tent—that was incredibly novel. In this lifetime, only Wei Rao would make him do such ridiculous things on this forbidden military ground.

“You’re not allowed to come again in the future.”

After breathing returned to normal, Lu Zhuo held her gently, inhaling the fragrance from her hair.

Wei Rao twirled a strand of long hair and mocked: “After General has had his fill, he wants to drive me away. Where’s such a good deal?”

Lu Zhuo started and looked into Wei Rao’s eyes.

Wei Rao smiled and pressed him down flat. She straddled him, tossing back her naturally flowing black hair, hands braced against Lu Zhuo: “I want to learn troop training from you.”

Lu Zhuo’s throat tightened. Hearing Wei Rao’s words, his gaze moved upward as he repeated hoarsely: “You want to learn troop training?”

Wei Rao nodded. She had thought it through: “Find me a separate tent. Starting tomorrow, I’ll train with you all like a soldier. Don’t worry, I’ve brought everything needed. With a proper disguise, I absolutely won’t expose myself or disturb your business. Just pretend I’m still in the city.”

“Nonsense.” Lu Zhuo refused without hesitation.

Wei Rao snorted: “Have I caused little mischief? Just say whether you agree or not.”

Speaking, Wei Rao reached behind herself, searching her arsenal.

Lu Zhuo: …

Wei Rao looked at him with determination. If Lu Zhuo didn’t speak, she would threaten him with her nails.

Lu Zhuo drew breath and reasoned with her: “What use would learning troop training be? Military officers all have quotas—it’s impossible to assign troops to you.”

Wei Rao: “That’s not for you to worry about. Once I’ve learned, I’ll naturally leave. Even if you beg me to stay at the military camp, I won’t agree.”

Lu Zhuo still hesitated when Zhao Song suddenly announced outside: “General, Deputy General He requests an audience.”

Lu Zhuo looked at Wei Rao.

Wei Rao tightened her five fingers.

Lu Zhuo sucked in cold air, knowing she wouldn’t compromise easily, and had to agree to her request.

Wei Rao smiled and quickly released him.

After the time of one teacup, Lu Zhuo emerged from the tent properly dressed with a stern expression.

Deputy General He looked up, his gaze sweeping Lu Zhuo’s face before quickly lowering. He felt the commander’s handsome face was slightly flushed, just as the executed Deputy General Zhang had said, more gorgeous than peach blossoms, more charming than beauties. However, with Deputy General Zhang’s example before him, Deputy General He wouldn’t be foolish enough to make light of the commander and offer up his neck.

“What matter brings you to me?”

“Reporting to General, one of my subordinates requests marriage leave. Since his family lives far away, he needs a full month for the round trip.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhuo glanced at the tent behind him: “Approved. It happens that my cousin just arrived today. Have him train with you starting tomorrow.”

Deputy General He exclaimed in surprise: “Your cousin?”

Lu Zhuo: “Yes, he’s been pampered at home and sent here by elders for training. Just discipline him normally—no need to go easy.”

Deputy General He immediately felt overwhelmed. The commander’s relative was surely either wealthy or noble—who would dare truly offend him?