In the sixth year of Jianping, in the fifth month, Xiao Du led ten thousand soldiers from the capital and, bearing the military seal granted by Emperor Wen, assembled tens of thousands more troops from Yan Province and You Province, arriving at Pingdu Pass to join forces with the Xiao family army. The Xiao family army, which had been fighting bitterly at Pingdu Pass for half a month, finally awaited their lord’s personal reinforcement. For a time, morale soared through the army as everyone shouted their determination to drive the barbarians back to their homeland.

However, the 200,000-strong Black Cavalry united army formed by Mu Rong and Wu had assembled the most elite forces of both nations, vowing to avenge their previous shame by capturing Pingdu Pass and trampling the Central Plains under their iron hooves. Both sides fought fiercely for several months with victories and defeats on each side, maintaining a continuous stalemate.

On this day, Xiao Du led his troops to a great victory over the Black Cavalry army, forcing them to retreat five hundred li outside the city. After more than ten days and nights, he was finally able to lead his army back to the city, while ordering his soldiers to hurry in reinforcing the city walls and digging deeper battle trenches to prevent the enemy’s next assault.

Afterward, Xiao Du rushed back to his residence without even removing his armor. In the bedchamber, Yuanxi was sitting with her head lowered, mending a robe. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto her face as the needle and thread in her hands danced around fine dust particles. Her slightly bent figure cast a tranquil and warm scene in the golden halo of light. Xiao Du couldn’t help but smile, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorway, quietly watching this scene before him. The battlefield was merciless – only when he emerged from blood and slaughter and saw her could he cleanse the evil from his heart and find a sense of belonging.

Hearing movement by the door, Yuanxi looked up to see Xiao Du gazing at her with a smile, weathered from wind and frost. She quickly set down her needlework and flew into his embrace, then stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips. Xiao Du’s heart leaped, but he quickly pulled away from her, saying: “Don’t – I’m dirty.”

But Yuanxi touched his face and smiled with narrowed eyes: “My husband is a great hero – this isn’t dirt, it’s the mark of your victory.” Then she held Xiao Du close for a good while before reluctantly ordering the maidservants to bring a bucket of hot water and pushing him to bathe.

Steam billowed and white mist rose as Xiao Du soaked his entire body in the hot water, humming comfortably in relief. This battle had been extremely arduous. Fortunately, he had personally led troops to outflank the left wing of the Black Cavalry army, using an encirclement strategy to deal the enemy a crushing blow and destroy over ten thousand of their forces. But in just a few more months, winter would arrive. The Black Cavalry coalition’s supplies were in the rear, allowing them to retreat to the grasslands at any time. However, if supply problems arose on the capital’s side, Pingdu Pass would fall into danger. He couldn’t help but think again of that tragic scene from five years ago, and his heart immediately filled with annoyance as he furrowed his brow tightly.

At this moment, a pair of gentle hands reached around from behind to smooth his frown. Yuanxi picked up a cloth to wipe his back and said softly: “Since you’re back, rest well first. Other matters can be planned slowly later.”

Xiao Du turned to gaze at those features he had longed for day and night. Behind him, her hands rubbed against his skin stroke by stroke, immediately causing his whole body to feel burning hot as fire suddenly surged in his abdomen. He pulled her hand to his lips for a kiss, then suddenly exerted force to pull her into the wooden tub as well. Water splashed up as Yuanxi startled. By the time she reacted, she was already sitting across from Xiao Du, soaked through from head to toe. Xiao Du wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing her body tightly against his, and said with a mischievous smile: “You should wash together too.”

Yuanxi huffed angrily, puffing her cheeks: “You can’t behave properly even while bathing – I won’t accompany your madness!”

But how could her strength match Xiao Du’s? Before she could struggle twice, she was pressed against the edge of the tub and kissed fiercely until she lay softly in his embrace. Only then did Xiao Du sigh and lean close to her ear: “Xi’er, I missed you so much. If only I could tie you to my side and take you everywhere, but the battlefield is so dangerous, I’m afraid…”

Yuanxi found his childish words somewhat amusing, but thinking of how each time he went to war meant traveling between life and death, she felt somewhat heartbroken. So she lay against his shoulder, playing with his wet hair, and said: “When you win this battle, we won’t be separated anymore.”

Xiao Du’s eyes darkened slightly. Even after winning this battle and driving the Wu people back, they could never return to the capital again. Since they had reached this point, to return to the capital would require fighting the imperial city and seizing that position above millions of people. He suddenly felt extremely weary. Only the soft warmth in his arms could comfort him, so he greedily inhaled her fragrance, impatiently tearing at her clothes and constantly nibbling at her smooth, tender skin while his large hands brazenly moved downward, creating rolling waves and undulating heat.

Before Yuanxi could resist, she was aroused until her whole body went soft, allowing him to have his way in a daze. For a time, only the sound of splashing water mixed with heavy breathing could be heard in the room. Who knew Xiao Du had been suppressed too long – in his passion, he forgot they were still in the small wooden tub and only knew to attack fiercely. Finally, the wooden tub beneath them couldn’t withstand the torment and burst open with a “bang,” splashing water everywhere as the two lovers tumbled out with the flowing water.

The guards outside heard the noise and quickly knocked on the door, shouting: “My lord? What happened?” Xiao Du awkwardly held Yuanxi as they lay on the ground. Afraid the people outside would burst in, he quickly grabbed a cloth hanging on the rack to wrap around Yuanxi’s body while shouting in embarrassment: “Nothing! Don’t come in yet.”

The guards outside stared blankly at water seeping out from under the door crack, scratching their heads in confusion about what had actually happened. But since their lord said not to let them in, none dared act rashly and could only mutter to each other as they stood back by the door.

Seeing no more movement outside, Xiao Du breathed a slight sigh of relief. By this time, Yuanxi beneath him was already blushing crimson with shame, covering her face and glaring at him through her fingers: “It’s all your fault! Going crazy without choosing a proper place – now how do we clean this up?”

Xiao Du hadn’t seen her blushing and shy like this in a long time, making his heart even more uncontrollable. He simply scooped up her body and carried her toward the inner chamber: “Fine, then let’s find a good position now and continue.”

Finally, after several rounds of passionate lovemaking, Yuanxi was exhausted and sore all over, falling asleep drowsily in Xiao Du’s embrace. When the two awakened again, it was nearly sunset. Yuanxi lazily opened her eyes and saw the water stains covering the floor in the dim yellow light, only then remembering the chaos still remained in the outer room. The bathing tub had split into several pieces, and the two had hidden in the room all day without coming out. Outsiders who saw this would definitely be able to guess what had happened. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but cover her face and lament again: she would have no face to see people in the future.

But Xiao Du never cared about such things – after all, it was intimate time with his own wife. He could be wherever he wanted and use whatever positions he wanted, without letting outsiders gossip about it. Seeing the evening glow about to fill the sky ahead, he suddenly remembered something important and quickly pulled Yuanxi up: “Quick, get dressed properly – I’ll take you somewhere!”

Before Yuanxi could understand what was happening, she saw his excited expression as he looked at her. She had no choice but to dress properly and ride together with him toward the street. Yuanxi had been somewhat afraid of the jolting on horseback, but being held tightly in his embrace made her feel completely secure inside.

The two rode all the way to the foot of Daixia Mountain in the west of the city. Xiao Du helped Yuanxi dismount and tied their horse to a large tree, then took her hand: “Let’s go up the mountain to watch the sunset – we should still be in time.”

Yuanxi had long heard him say that the sunsets at the border were extremely beautiful. At this moment, she couldn’t care about fatigue and quickly followed him up the mountain. After walking a few steps, Xiao Du looked back to see Yuanxi struggling to follow while lifting her skirts, so he simply crouched down and pulled her directly onto his back: “I’ll carry you up.”

Yuanxi lay on his broad back and smiled with curved lips. Afraid of missing the sunset, Xiao Du carried Yuanxi and climbed rapidly up the mountain. After climbing only halfway, large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Yuanxi felt somewhat heartbroken and wiped his sweat while saying: “Why don’t I come down and climb myself?”

Xiao Du chuckled: “Just lie still. Your husband dares face hundreds of thousands of troops – how could he not be able to carry one small lady?” Suddenly remembering something, he turned back and said gently: “I said I’d carry you for a lifetime – how could I give up halfway?”

Yuanxi tilted her head against his shoulder, feeling as if all the wild flowers on this mountain were blooming in her heart, with stream water flowing over her heart’s tip, leaving honey-like sweetness.

Finally arriving at the mountaintop before sunset, Xiao Du set Yuanxi down and then collapsed on the ground, gasping heavily. Yuanxi quickly untied the water pouch he carried with him and fed him a drink. After Xiao Du drank a few mouthfuls from the water pouch, a hint of cunning suddenly flashed in his eyes as he pulled her close: “I want you to feed me.”

Yuanxi paused before understanding, seeing his rogue attitude of refusing to drink unless she fed him. She could only sigh and shake her head, taking water in her mouth and bending down to feed him. But after Xiao Du drank the water, he held onto her small tongue and wouldn’t let go. Yuanxi was both angry and amused, struggling to get up, but Xiao Du gently pressed her head down, turning over to press her beneath him and continue kissing. The two had only been intimate for a moment when Xiao Du suddenly raised his head and helped Yuanxi sit up: “Xi’er, look.”

She saw the round, bright red setting sun sinking bit by bit into the river surface, reflecting countless rays of sunset glow on the winding water. The evening sun dyed the distant grassland with golden light as a lone eagle spread its wings, soaring over the rolling mountain ridges and mottled city walls. This must be what poetry described as “the long river and setting sun, the solitary smoke in the great desert.”

Yuanxi watched somewhat mesmerized as Xiao Du helped rest her head against his shoulder. The two sat shoulder to shoulder on the mountaintop, quietly appreciating this magnificent scenery. Only after that light was gradually swallowed by the river surface did Yuanxi softly speak: “So beautiful – this sunset is truly beautiful.”

But Xiao Du let out a gentle breath: “Xi’er, do you ever regret it? If not for my identity, you could have stayed comfortably in the capital, enjoying fine clothes and food, without needing to come suffer at the frontier and live these days of constant fear.”

Yuanxi grasped his arm and leaned against it: “If not for you, my entire life would only have been as a young lady trapped in a small space, or a wife who only cared about managing husband and teaching children. A’Du, I like it here. Even if I accompanied you to herd sheep beyond the frontier, being an ordinary pastoral couple, I would still feel joyful.”

Xiao Du held her even tighter, opening his mouth somewhat hesitantly: “Then have you ever thought about becoming empress?”

Yuanxi quickly raised her head: “I don’t want to, and I don’t want you to reignite warfare in the Central Plains for the sake of competing for that position, becoming a sinner who causes people to suffer.”

Xiao Du gripped her hand tightly and sighed heavily. How could he want such a thing either? But reality was cruel – if he didn’t fight with all his strength to climb to the peak, that person would definitely never let them go. In this lifetime, could they truly be allowed to choose for themselves?

The last trace of golden light gradually disappeared as the golden crow gave way to the jade rabbit hanging high in the sky. Luo Yuan gazed at the moonlight shining on the city walls and led the soldiers behind him through the city gates.

Ever since he helped the people from the marquis’s residence escape the capital, he had lived in the city together with them. Xiao Du was unwilling to waste his talents and secretly made him a nominal military advisor without Zhao Yan’s knowledge. Though Luo Yuan had never personally experienced battlefields, he was well-versed in military texts and loved to study them. After he deciphered an enemy formation and achieved great victory over the Black Cavalry army, the generals who had previously held suspicious attitudes toward him finally looked at him with new respect, all respectfully calling him Scholar Luo. Today he had led a team to build embankments by the river and only returned to the city after dark.

He first went to the General’s Residence to report today’s progress to Xiao Du, but learned that his lordship had taken his wife to Daixia Mountain, so he had no choice but to turn toward the medical clinic to check on the wounded soldiers rescued from this battle.

The medical clinic was filled with wails and crying sounds. Luo Yuan sighed heavily and was about to walk further inside when he suddenly heard someone shouting loudly in a room: “It’s true! I really saw with my own eyes that divine physician in the mountains. Legend says he’s like a reincarnated immortal – there’s never been a disease he couldn’t cure.” Luo Yuan’s heart stirred as he immediately thought of someone and abruptly stopped his steps…