When Li Shuang awoke, she found herself lying on the bed, holding the still-sleeping Jin An in her arms. She froze in surprise. Had she slept so deeply yesterday that she didn’t even remember getting into bed?
Though… Li Shuang had to admit, that last night had been her most peaceful sleep in recent times… perhaps even in a very long time. Her whole body felt warm, completely untouched by the northern frontier’s cold.
Jin An stirred in her arms. Li Shuang looked down at him, seeing the small child’s lips curved slightly upward as if enjoying the sweetest candy in his dreams.
It was rare to see such an innocent, adorable expression on this child. Li Shuang’s lips quirked as she pinched his nose, and then checked his forehead.
His recovery was quick—the fever had broken. Whether it was the physician’s medicine or Jin An’s own constitution fighting it off, he seemed to be out of danger.
Li Shuang lifted the blanket and got out of bed. She glanced back at the still-sleeping Jin An but didn’t wake him. After washing up, she left the tent.
Today, Deer City’s gates were wide open as civilians who had temporarily fled the warfare gradually returned. Li Shuang had assigned many soldiers to check the returning citizens at the gates to prevent spies from other northern nations and tribes from sneaking into the city.
When Li Shuang arrived, the city gate was heavily guarded, with soldiers examining and admitting people one by one. A long queue had formed outside. Seeing her, Qin Lan came forward and saluted: “What brings the General here?”
“Just checking. Any irregularities?”
“We caught two spies.” Qin Lan pointed to the side. Li Shuang looked where he indicated and saw two wooden cages, each holding a prisoner. One was dressed as a Deer City civilian, but his features were those of a frontier person. He crouched dejectedly in his cage, looking frustrated and anxious. Likely a spy from another tribe.
But the other one…
Was rather strange.
Li Shuang studied him carefully. The man wore silk robes. Having grown up in a general’s manor, Li Shuang was familiar with weapons and fine fabrics alike. She estimated his clothing couldn’t have cost less than a hundred gold pieces. A white jade hairpin adorned his head, the jade smooth and pure white as cream—the finest mutton-fat jade. Just from his appearance, whichever country had outfitted this spy seemed… unnecessarily conspicuous.
Moreover, his face was as beautiful as jade, with delicate features and an extraordinary gentleness. He sat cross-legged in his cage, meditating like a Central Plains Daoist priest or Buddhist monk.
Li Shuang raised an eyebrow and turned to Qin Lan with curiosity: “A spy?”
“We’re not certain,” Qin Lan replied. “When questioned about his background, he remained silent. Asked about his business in Deer City, he gave no answer. Given the current situation in Deer City, his suspicious behavior led us to detain him for further questioning.”
“With that delicate appearance, he looks like someone from the south.” Li Shuang walked over and stood before the cage.
The meditating man seemed to sense someone before him. His long lashes trembled as he raised his eyes, fixing Li Shuang with a gentle spring-water gaze. Her image reflected in his dark pupils as he studied her for a moment before his lips curved into a smile: “What a spirited young lady.”
Hmm, was this his attempt at dignified flirtation?
Li Shuang raised an eyebrow and asked: “My subordinates say you wouldn’t answer any questions, yet it seems you can speak after all.”
“I only speak with those I’m fated to meet.”
What a mystical pretty boy.
But at least he was talking now. Li Shuang questioned him: “My Longfeng Camp never detains innocent people. Clear up your background and intentions, show your identity documents, and if there’s no problem, we can release you now. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?”
“What do you think? You’ll be locked in the county jail’s dungeon, questioned when we choose, and if you still won’t answer, you’ll stay there.”
“The county jail dungeon?” The man pondered for a moment. “I’ve never been there. Could be educational.” He looked up at Li Shuang with a gentle smile. “Go ahead and lock me up. Don’t worry about me.”
Li Shuang: “…”
She met strange people every year, but this year… seemed to have an especially high number. And each one is strange in their own unique way.
“Food is scarce this winter. If you want to stay in the dungeon, you’ll have to pay for your meals.”
“Fair point.” The man nodded as if this made perfect sense. He patted himself down. “Seems I’ve lost my money pouch.” After considering for a moment, he raised his hand to grasp his white jade hairpin, pulling it straight from his black hair. As his hair fell loose, it made his face appear even gentler than a woman’s. He smiled softly at Li Shuang, “Here, this pin should cover a few meals.”
This pin could probably cover his meals in the Deer City dungeon for a lifetime.
Li Shuang looked at him silently, then took the jade pin without ceremony: “As you wish.”
As she turned to leave, the man called out softly: “Young lady.” Li Shuang looked back to see him smiling up at her harmlessly. “You have blood calamity in your near future. Do take care of yourself.”
Li Shuang paused, then waved dismissively: “There’s never a day I don’t live among blood.”
As Li Shuang walked away, Qin Lan cast a glance at the smiling man in the cage before following her a few steps: “General, this man is truly strange…”
“Once he’s in the dungeon, no matter how strange he is, he can’t cause any waves.” Li Shuang toyed with the hairpin in her hand. “After imprisoning him, assign extra guards to watch him.”
“Yes.”
After monitoring the city gate a while longer without incident, Li Shuang headed back. On the way, she overheard reunited citizens expressing their relief: “I never thought we’d make it back to celebrate the festival this year. How fortunate!”
Li Shuang suddenly realized that after all the recent waves of chaos, the Clear Snow Festival was approaching Deer City.
The Clear Snow Festival was the last major celebration before the new year in this region. After this festival, the northern frontier entered deep winter, with howling winds causing households to shut their doors tight, ceasing farming and trade. From this day until after the new year celebrations, people rested until the third month when the cold broke and a new year of labor began.
Thus, the Clear Snow Festival was extremely important in Deer City. People honored their ancestors at temples, lit sky lanterns, and prepared for the coming three months.
Li Shuang recalled Li Ting mentioning before his departure that she should try to return home when she had time. But the northern frontier’s winters were always incredibly tense, leaving no free time. And even if she did have time… Li Shuang wasn’t sure she’d go back anyway.
The capital was too refined and complex, with every relationship requiring careful maintenance, unlike the northern frontier’s rough freedom. It wasn’t a place suited to her.
When Li Shuang returned to her tent, she saw Jin An emerging from it. Without looking anywhere else, his eyes found her through the crowd, and he walked toward her. Li Shuang crouched down in advance, and when Jin An reached her, she naturally lifted him: “Haven’t gone to report to your Black Armored warrior today?”
She asked teasingly, but Jin An considered it seriously: “If I report to him, you won’t be angry?”
Li Shuang thought about it: “Before, I might have been somewhat angry. But…” Li Shuang smiled gently. “He’s become a benefactor to Deer City now. Though some of his previous actions were excessive, they didn’t harm the country, and even… protected my nation. I can’t be angry with him anymore. If you’re reporting to someone like that, I probably can’t be angry about that either.”
“Then would you marry him?”
“…”
This child’s thought process jumped to conclusions just like that Black Armored warrior.
“That’s a different matter entirely.”
Jin An frowned: “You don’t want to marry him? Why? Do you look down on him? His appearance? His body? Or is he not powerful enough?”
She…
She found herself at a loss for words against a child’s questioning.
“I just… don’t know him.” After answering, Li Shuang suddenly realized she’d been led by the nose by a child. She glanced at Jin An and set him down. “Go on now, since you’re better, get back to training.”
She turned to leave just as a deputy commander approached to discuss matters with her, and they entered the main tent together. Outside, Jin An watched the direction she’d gone and said seriously: “You will know him.”
He would make sure she knew him.
His appearance, his body, he was willing to show her everything, willing to let her know everything. If only she said she wanted to know.