After lunch in the military camp, as soldiers rested, General Li Shuang worried about the approaching winter. With insufficient food stores, the Western Rong might raid the Great Jin border for supplies. However, with over a month until severe winter, the camp was relatively idle.
To pass the time, Li Shuang picked up a storybook from a stack of military records. Raised as a boy by her father, she excelled in martial arts but retained a fondness for these tales. Whether romantic stories, anecdotes of talented scholars, chronicles of martial heroes, or supernatural tales, she enjoyed them all. In the desolate northern frontier, these books from the capital were her sole entertainment.
As Li Shuang read, engrossed despite her bandaged finger, heavy footsteps approached. Luo Teng burst in without knocking. “General! I said we shouldn’t have brought that brat back! He’s causing trouble already!”
Li Shuang discreetly hid her book and inquired calmly.
Luo Teng explained that the boy had rejected food and injured two soldiers. “If it weren’t for you bringing him, I’d have dealt with the ungrateful whelp myself.”
Li Shuang nodded. “I’ll check on him.”
Entering the boy’s tent, she was surprised to find him bound like a dumpling, surrounded by wary soldiers. Food was scattered on the ground.
Li Shuang, amused, asked, “What’s all this?”
The soldiers made way, while the boy fixed his gaze on her. His eyes held a complexity unusual for a child.
She glanced at the scattered food. “Afraid of poison?”
A soldier mentioned the boy seemed mute, but the child suddenly spoke clearly: “Yes.”
Li Shuang laughed. “Why poison when we have plenty of swords?” She swiftly borrowed a soldier’s sword and, in a powerful move that startled everyone, cut through the boy’s bindings without harming him.
The boy remained unflinching, either recognizing her intent or lacking fear – both remarkable for a child.
Li Shuang crouched to his eye level. “I don’t know your past, but here, no one owes or intends to harm you. I brought you here out of conscience. You’ve wasted your lunch, so you’ll go without food today and tonight as punishment. We don’t coddle anyone here.”
She left, chiding the soldiers for their treatment of a child.
Alone, the boy examined the cut ropes, sensing her lingering presence on them, finding it strangely alluring.
That evening, as Li Shuang passed the boy’s tent, he emerged, staring at her intensely.
“You’re perceptive,” she remarked, “sensing my presence.”
“I sensed it was you,” he replied.
Intrigued, she asked, “Oh? How? Do you have a wolf’s nose?”
“Yes, I can smell you.”
“What do I smell like?” she asked, amused.
“Special…” he began, thinking of her blood’s allure. He touched her hand, feeling an electric sensation.
Li Shuang joked, “Special? Did you taste my blood while unconscious and imprint on me?”
The boy froze, but Li Shuang, moved by his frail appearance, secretly gave him a piece of candy. “Eat it quietly. I ordered no food for you, so this is our secret.”
As Qin Lan’s voice called for her, Li Shuang quickly explained, “This is the Longfeng Camp of Luchengshou Army, Great Jin Dynasty. I’m General Li Shuang. When you’re ready, tell me about yourself. If you have family, I’ll reunite you. If not, I’ll find you a home in Lucheng. Take your time to decide, then come find me.”
The twilight stung the child’s eyes, causing his heart to skip a beat. He froze, his steps faltering, and failed to grasp Li Shuang’s robe as she left.
Li Shuang greeted Qin Lan outside, “I’m here. What’s the matter?”
“The young master’s carriage has arrived,” Qin Lan replied, quickly leading Li Shuang away.
The heavy curtain fell, concealing the child within the tent. Unseen by others, he clutched his chest and slowly knelt, his breathing becoming rapid as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
A red flame pattern began to grow beneath his clothes, crawling up his neck and face, reaching the corner of his eye. His body started to expand…
At the entrance of Changfeng Camp, a vermilion carriage stopped. A young nobleman in fox fur leaped down, brushing off the servant’s assistance. He took a deep breath, hearing the approaching footsteps of armored soldiers.
Looking up, the handsome youth’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “Sister,” he called out.
Before he could run to Li Shuang, she reached him and flicked his forehead with her middle finger. The crisp sound made him wince and hiss in pain, rubbing his forehead vigorously.
“Sister, your strength has increased,” he grumbled.
Li Shuang snorted, unmoved by his complaint. “Want to test how much stronger I can be?”
Li Ting quickly shook his head. “No, no.” He gazed at Li Shuang with a pitiful expression. “Sister, I’ve missed you. You haven’t been home for two or three years.”
Li Shuang, always softer towards gentleness, found her anger dissipating. She maintained a stern face, saying, “You’re willful, and the old man indulges you. If anything happens here, I won’t be responsible!”
“I know you’ll always look after me!” Li Ting’s sunny smile warmed the cold frontier, melting Li Shuang’s remaining anger.
“Alright, alright,” Qin Lan intervened. “General, it’s cold outside. Let’s get the young master inside.”
In the main tent, dinner was served. The camp’s fare was simple, with individual tables. As they ate quietly, Luo Teng suddenly entered. “General,” he saluted, brushing snow from his clothes. “The boy you brought back is missing.”
Li Shuang paused. “Missing? How?”
“Soldiers passing his tent heard strange noises. When they checked, he was gone. We’ve been searching the camp, but there’s no sign of him.”
Li Shuang frowned. The night had fallen, and heavy snow was falling. A child out in such conditions would struggle against the cold. “Search outside the camp as well,” she ordered.
Luo Teng grimaced. “Why bother, General? He’s an ungrateful brat. Let him run; we’ll save on rations. This cold year, we can’t afford to feed idle mouths.”
“Search thoroughly. If he’s not found, so be it,” Li Shuang decided.
As Luo Teng left, Li Ting asked, “Sister, did you recently take in a child?”
“Yes,” Li Shuang replied, her mind elsewhere. She observed the weather outside, noting the early heavy snow. The harsh winter would be difficult for the Western Rong, potentially leading to unrest and conflict…
“Li Ting,” she said calmly while eating, “you can stay in the north for a month at most. After that, I’ll send a small squad to escort you back to the capital.”
Li Ting’s eyes widened in protest. “Why? I’ve traveled for half a month to get here, and you’re only allowing me to stay for one?”
“Be grateful for that month,” Li Shuang replied firmly.
“Father said I could stay as long as I wanted! He’s the Grand Marshal; you should listen to him,” Li Ting argued.
“A general in the field may disobey orders. This is Changfeng Camp, and I’m in charge,” Li Shuang asserted, her tone brooking no argument. “Keep arguing, and I’ll send you back tomorrow.”
“Sister, you’re being unreasonable!”
“Indeed. What are you going to do about it?”
Li Ting, cornered, gritted his teeth. “If I go back, you’re coming with me.”
Li Shuang smirked coldly. “Boy, have you forgotten your sister’s temper after a few years without a beating?”
Li Ting swallowed hard, deflating like frost-bitten eggplant. He lost his appetite, poking at his rice dejectedly.
Li Shuang, assuming it was just his princely temper, continued eating contentedly. To her surprise, Li Ting spoke up again after a while. “Sister.”
She ignored him.
“You want me to return to the capital because you think it’s harsh and dangerous here, right?” he continued. “Don’t you know Father and I worry about you the same way when you’re on the frontier?”
Unmoved, Li Shuang replied, “If you’re truly concerned, don’t come here and become a burden. Go home, let the old man arrange a marriage for you, help him strengthen his political connections, and secure his position as Grand Marshal. That will make me safer here.”
Li Ting was speechless. Qin Lan, Li Shuang’s longtime confidant, kept his eyes lowered, pretending not to hear.
“You’re not even married! How can you tell me to marry?” Li Ting exclaimed, frustrated. “I know why you don’t want to return to the capital. You’re afraid to see Crown Prince Brother, aren’t you? Just because he got married, you’re planning to avoid him and never return to the capital!”
Li Shuang stiffened at his words, remaining silent.
Qin Lan set down his bowl with a thud and scolded, “Young master, the General guards Changfeng Camp to protect our nation. How dare you misunderstand her intentions like this?”
“I…” Li Ting trailed off, glancing nervously at Li Shuang, realizing he had gone too far.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Li Shuang suddenly felt a breeze disturb her hair. Without hesitation, she threw her chopsticks behind her.
Before the others could react, Qin Lan turned to see that Li Shuang had thrown her chopsticks at a place where someone had cut a small opening in the tent, allowing for observation from outside.
“Intruder!” Qin Lan shouted. Soldiers immediately rushed into the tent, and torches were lit outside. However, there was no sign of anyone in the vicinity.