In the misty winter morning, powerful footsteps could be heard approaching.

“General!” The patrolling guards stopped and saluted respectfully, watching this man who was still wearing only his undergarments with his thick outer clothes draped over his arm run past them without a sideways glance.

“The General is really early,” everyone sighed, then continued their patrol.

Running quickly all the way to the official hall, Chang Yuncheng exhaled in relief. That was close, close – fortunately he hadn’t returned too late. If the sun had been high in the sky, it would have been terrible…

But just as he exhaled, he heard someone behind him call out “General.” He turned around to see four or five officers standing at the door with strange expressions.

“Is there urgent military business that requires me to personally investigate?” Chang Yuncheng asked after hearing what they said.

The officers bore the awkwardness of those unaccustomed to lying, but still nodded.

“Come in then,” Chang Yuncheng said. Seeing everyone’s gazes looking back and forth at the clothes on his arm, he instinctively concealed them behind his back. “You all sit for a moment. I ran several laps and worked up a sweat – let me go wash up, and we’ll leave immediately.”

Watching Chang Yuncheng go inside, the men outside exchanged glances.

“Ran several laps…” someone muttered in a low voice, “Don’t know if he was running on the ground or on top of a woman…”

The person beside him quickly kicked him, signaling him to keep his voice down.

The personal guard had already prepared water. Chang Yuncheng quickly undressed and poured water over himself, feeling an unprecedented comfort throughout his body. He couldn’t help but hum a little tune he’d heard from someone, while wiping himself down. When he touched his shoulder, it hurt slightly. Looking down, he saw a bright red bite mark.

This was what that woman had bitten…

At that moment of tender intimacy, sweet passion, and ultimate ecstasy…

As the thought flashed through his mind, the woman’s soft moans suddenly echoed in his ears, while before his eyes appeared the white, alluring female body pressed tightly beneath him. With his movements, her raven-black hair, white tender breasts rippled with soul-stirring spring waves.

Chang Yuncheng’s lower abdomen immediately tightened, his blood surging throughout his body. He grabbed a bucket of cold water nearby and poured it over himself.

They say the night is long and endless – what nonsense! Where was it long? It simply wasn’t enough!

When sunlight streamed into the room, A’Ru outside hesitated repeatedly before pushing the door open. At a glance, she saw Qi Yue still lying face down sleeping on the kang in the inner room.

The room still carried the lingering atmosphere of post-lovemaking intimacy. A’Ru couldn’t help but blush and lower her head, but then she saw the clothes scattered messily on the floor, some even torn, revealing how urgent that moment had been.

A’Ru had to raise her head again with a red face, seeing that Qi Yue on the kang was only covered by half the quilt, while the other half had slipped to the floor, exposing her shoulders covered with purple bruises.

Were these… these all from… that kind of thing?

Really too rough.

She stepped forward with a flushed face to pull the quilt up properly.

“What time is it?” Qi Yue asked groggily.

A’Ru was startled.

“It’s still early,” she hurriedly said. “Hot water is ready. Would you like to wash first before sleeping more?”

Qi Yue tried to get up but felt weak, reaching out to rub her lower back.

“That bastard…” she muttered, “Simply went crazy…”

Endless and without any restraint…

Weren’t men who had been abstinent for too long supposed to be very quick?

Liar!

A’Ru quickly reached out to help her massage gently.

The room was silent for a moment.

“What if Madam still won’t agree to let you enter the family?” A’Ru suddenly said in a low voice.

Qi Yue turned her head outward, glancing at her.

“Then I simply won’t enter,” she giggled, “I’ll have him marry into my family instead.”

A’Ru burst out laughing, raising her hand to pat her shoulder once.

Qi Yue immediately cried out in pain.

“A’Ru, don’t worry about me,” she laughed, sitting up to look at A’Ru. “I won’t let myself be sad, and I won’t let him be so troubled again. Life is short, fate is shallow. When we have the chance, let’s cherish it well.”

As she sat up, the quilt slipped down revealing her naked upper body. A’Ru saw similar marks on her chest and quickly averted her gaze, standing up to bring over her clothes.

“Miss, you and the Prince must be good to each other. As long as you two are united, you can get through any difficulty,” A’Ru said.

Qi Yue reached out to pinch her face.

“I’m older than you, I know,” she laughed.

A’Ru looked at her reproachfully and dodged away.

“Get up quickly, you shameless older woman,” she laughed.

Just as she finished dressing, they heard some commotion outside.

“Go to Songshan Fort?” Qi Yue asked.

Looking at the several military doctors and two officers who had been invited in.

“Yes, a unit there was ambushed by the enemy, and they’re requesting military doctors to go help,” one officer said with a stern face.

“Alright,” Qi Yue nodded in agreement. “I’ll pack up right away.”

The two officers exchanged glances, clearly somewhat surprised.

She actually agreed to go? Could she really bear to leave this place?

Never mind – though they couldn’t help their brother keep a woman’s heart, at least they could preserve some face.

Watching that woman and several military doctors drive out of the fort gates, the two officers breathed a sigh of relief.

At this time, at another fort gate, Chang Yuncheng and four or five officers with a unit of soldiers also rushed out.

Hopefully this time would be enough for the Defense Official to convince the Garrison Commander.

“What exactly do you want to say?”

The Garrison Commander finally impatiently tapped the table, looking at Pengshan Fort Defense Official Lü Baoshan who had been sitting there for a full half day.

This big burly man looking so aggrieved was really uncomfortable to watch.

“The merit rewards have been reported up. There’s a process for them to come down – they won’t come so quickly. You’re an old hand, you can’t not know this rule, right?” the Garrison Commander said irritably.

“No, no, Sir, I’m not here to ask about that,” Lü Baoshan hurriedly said. Gritting his teeth, he stood up. “Sir, please quickly transfer General Wulüe back, or someone will definitely die!”

Someone will die! The Garrison Commander was startled – General Wulüe’s life was quite valuable.

“What’s going on? What did that incomprehensible document you wrote last time mean?” he hurriedly asked. “How will someone die?”

Now that he had opened his mouth, Lü Baoshan poured everything out like beans from a bamboo tube.

“Sir, I admire the General’s martial skills and strategy, and he’s good to his brothers, but this time what he’s doing is really not right!” he finally said, feeling sad, wronged, and bitter – he couldn’t describe what he was feeling.

After finishing, he looked at the Garrison Commander again, only to see his expression was normal and even carried a smile.

Lü Baoshan couldn’t help but be stunned.

“Oh, this,” the Garrison Commander laughed, breathing a sigh of relief. “I thought it was something serious. You rough old men have nothing better to do than meddle in such matters?”

Lü Baoshan’s eyes widened as he stood up.

“Sir, this isn’t a serious matter?” he shouted.

“Enough! What Jiang Hai’s woman – even if she is Jiang Hai’s woman, the General gave her to him. Besides, she might have been the General’s former concubine,” the Garrison Commander said with some disdain. Wealthy families kept beautiful concubines not only for their own enjoyment but also to give as gifts to friends and rewards. What were these country bumpkins who’d never seen the world making a fuss about?

Lü Baoshan stared wide-eyed and stunned for a long while.

“Even, even if she was once the General’s woman, since he gave her to Jiang Hai, she belongs to Jiang Hai. He can’t, he can’t take advantage of the man’s absence to… to do that,” he stammered.

“It’s just a woman. What’s the big deal? Does the General lack women? He can just give Jiang Hai ten or eight more later,” the Garrison Commander waved his hand dismissively, showing some impatience.

“The Garrison Commander won’t intervene?” Lü Baoshan asked with wide eyes.

The Garrison Commander snorted and picked up his tea.

“If the Garrison Commander won’t intervene, I will,” Lü Baoshan said with wide eyes. “Anyway, they can’t expect to carry on under my nose!”

“How can you be so stupid?” The Garrison Commander put down his teacup in exasperation. “People can’t wait to curry favor by sending women, but you’re looking for trouble! Really idle! I’m telling you, don’t worry about it. When the Prince’s young madam arrives, even if you want to send women, you won’t have the chance…”

His words had barely finished when someone outside shouted loudly.

“Sir! Sir, they’re here, they’re here!”

They’re here? The Prince’s young madam has arrived?

The Garrison Commander hurriedly stood up, then saw a doorkeeper rush in. Before he could salute, someone behind him pushed him aside with a slap.

This was an old man who looked quite fierce.

“Where’s Chang Yuncheng?” he roared. “Tell him to get out here and see me!”

The Garrison Commander was startled. Who was this? So arrogant?

Before he could ask, he saw another group of people pour in from outside, all dusty from travel. Fortunately, he recognized some of them.

“General!” The Garrison Commander’s legs went weak and he almost knelt to greet him.

Not just a general – several officials below the Commander-in-Chief of the entire Northwest front had come.

What was happening? Why had they all suddenly arrived?

The Garrison Commander was dumbfounded, not knowing which one to greet first.

But these people had no time to acknowledge his courtesies. Everyone was smiling and surrounding the old man who had charged in first.

“Master Zhou, Master Zhou, please sit, sit. Whatever you have to say, please sit down first,” the General personally reached out to support the old man, his expression as respectful as if serving his own father.

“I have no time to sit! Quickly get Chang Yuncheng out here to see me!” Zhou Maochun shouted impatiently, unceremoniously shaking off the General’s hand.

At this point, the General and others finally had time to notice the Garrison Commander.

“General Wulüe, Chang Yuncheng – where is he? Quickly have him come see Master Zhou,” he said with a serious expression.

What kind of master was this? The Garrison Commander wondered but didn’t dare ask, hurriedly explaining Chang Yuncheng’s whereabouts.

Zhou Maochun immediately set off.

“Is my master also there?” an unremarkable-looking man grabbed Zhou Maochun’s arm and asked.

This attitude was much worse than the General’s, but Zhou Maochun didn’t shake off his hand.

“Is his wife also at Pengshan Fort?” Zhou Maochun asked, turning around.

The General immediately looked at the Garrison Commander again.

His wife?

“The Prince’s madam has been saying she would come, but hasn’t arrived yet,” the Garrison Commander hurriedly said.

“What are you talking about? My master came long ago…” the man said with wide eyes.

The Garrison Commander was even more confused.

You asked about the Prince’s madam, but who is your master? What’s the connection?

“The Prince’s madam is their master, who is also the owner of Qianjin Hall in Yongqing Prefecture, the divine physician Madam Qi…” the General hurriedly explained.

What what?

The Garrison Commander was stunned, not immediately understanding.

What did he say?

Who is who?

Why did it sound like he couldn’t understand?

But soon he understood, as a familiar person rushed in.

Outside there was another commotion.

“Master, Master, you’ve finally come!”

Hu San bounded in three steps at a time. Seeing the familiar face, he immediately rushed over with tears flowing.

“Master, you’ve finally come…”

Behind him, the two disciples who had gone to find him couldn’t help but laugh.

“Senior Brother already cried once when he saw us. Let’s meet with him one by one later and see how many more times he can cry,” they told others.

Liu Pucheng smiled and comforted Hu San.

Zhou Maochun had no time to watch these matters.

“Is Madam Qi at Pengshan Fort?” he shouted.

“Yes, yes,” Hu San nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Maochun said nothing and immediately left. When he left, everyone hurriedly followed.

The hall had been noisy with people coming, then noisy with people leaving.

The Garrison Commander stood dumbly in place as if he had dreamed.

The sound of chattering teeth echoed in his ears – it was Lü Baoshan’s voice, who had been stupefied for a long time.

“Sir… sir… sir… Madam… Madam Qi… is… is…” he stammered.

Before he finished speaking, the Garrison Commander suddenly slapped his thigh.

“My dear mother’s uncle’s grandfather!” he shouted, rushing outside. “This is going to be the death of me!”