The berries and clear water in the basin had frozen solid at some unknown time. White frost spread outward from the edge of the bucket, sending bone-chilling cold through them, making them cry out involuntarily. Just as one opened her mouth, the other quickly grabbed her.
Feng Miaojun took the clear water handed to her by the guard and casually poured it into her small bottle, sneering: “Not sealing your mouths is because I’m in a good mood today.” With that, she turned and left.
Her supernatural power was precisely controlled, not causing any frostbite, otherwise the matter would have been complicated. As she turned, she noticed the wariness in the two women’s eyes, probably because they hadn’t known she was a cultivator.
This identity alone was enough to ward off most troubles, and with her powerful martial ability and strong backing, she couldn’t be bothered to play those overdone palace intrigue games with these young ladies.
Why take a winding path when a slap could solve the problem?
After walking about ten zhang away, someone approached her with a smile: “Miss An’an, what impressive authority you have.”
It was Lu Ming. Feng Miaojun gave him a sidelong glance: “Since when did the army have female soldiers?” This wasn’t a leisure outing—who would dare bring maids to serve them during a military campaign? Except for the Wei Prince who was accompanied by one consort, only the State Preceptor was an exception.
Lu Ming said in a low voice: “Yesterday when our forces joined together, General Mei Ji also arrived, and His Highness was greatly pleased. Those you encountered were her guards.”
She had heard this name more than twice. In recent years, the Kingdom of Wei had been flourishing, with numerous famous generals, and among them, the female general most talked about was General Mei Ji, Xu Guangxiang. She was born into a renowned family; her father was Wei’s tiger general Xu Shengye, who unfortunately died in battle while pursuing monsters twelve years ago. The Prince of Wei pitied her for being still young and personally adopted Xu Guangxiang, bestowing upon her the title of Princess Mei Ji. Who would have thought that Xu Guangxiang, with her exceptional talents and intelligence, would join the military and later lead troops to victory in several battles, making her general title more famous than her princess title?
This time, Xu Guangxiang served as the deputy general of the Northern Pacification Army. They advanced from the northwest to the southeast, finally successfully meeting with the royal army at Xiao Pass.
“So the female general has arrived.” If the general was female, naturally her personal guards would be women too.
Lu Ming looked around, and Feng Miaojun could tell from his manner that he had gossip to share. Sure enough, his next sentence was: “General Xu has admired the State Preceptor for a long time. All her guards know this, which is why they have some prejudice against you.”
Yun Ya’s admirers were truly everywhere, Feng Miaojun thought of her princess friend, but said aloud: “Then, does the State Preceptor know about this?”
“Well…” Lu Ming scratched his head, “No one can see through Master Yun Ya’s thoughts.”
Hmm, which meant Yun Ya knew—how could he not know? Lu Ming was being quite diplomatic. She tilted her head: “Are you advising me to avoid confrontation and be more tolerant?”
Lu Ming smiled: “How could I? I’ve said before that you don’t need to consider anyone’s feelings in the army except for His Highness and the State Preceptor.”
Feng Miaojun was delighted and gave him a large portion of strawberries: “Here, take these.”
Lu Ming weighed them in his hand: “So many?” It must be over four jin, and he was still single—could he finish all these?
Feng Miaojun’s phoenix eyes curved into crescents with her smile: “I’ve given you some of the State Preceptor’s portion too.”
“…” What? “Then what about the Master?”
“He doesn’t need to eat so many!” Feng Miaojun pouted and walked away.
That night, the Prince of Wei held a banquet, first to celebrate the victory, and second to welcome the Northern Pacification Army.
Ya changed into a brocade robe, with his black hair neatly tied back with a ruby band. His heart condition had temporarily eased, and his complexion had improved slightly in recent days. His thin lips were naturally red without any cosmetics, and even in the flickering candlelight, he exuded elegant handsomeness. Feng Miaojun pursed her lips as she helped him arrange his attire in the tent.
She was just fixing his front collar when Yun Ya, seeing her sullen face like an angry little hamster, couldn’t help but pinch her smooth cheek and ask with amusement: “Who has upset my An’an?”
She raised her eyelids: “Today I heard people in the camp criticizing me, saying I was bewitchingly seductive and confusing my master.”
“Oh?” Yun Ya lifted her delicate chin and scanned her face, “They’re not wrong.”
The corner of her mouth curved upward, and she quickly broke free from his hand, taking a jade belt to tie around his waist, her expression slightly relaxed.
She’d just take it as a compliment, hmph.
“Who has such good insight?” When Feng Miaojun didn’t answer, Yun Ya looked down at her from his height, “A woman?” Men wouldn’t gossip like this.
It had to be said that this man’s sixth sense was sharper than a woman’s. She let out a light snort.
Yun Ya smiled. When he smiled, it was like spring filling the hall. Feng Miaojun wanted to complain that those women must have been blinded—this man before her was more enchanting than she was, so who was more like a bewitching spirit?
“By the way, the strawberries delivered today seem fewer than usual?”
“Not fewer, but many were rotten,” she lied with a straight face. “I picked out the bad ones, so there aren’t many left.”
“Is that so?” He touched his nose. “Lu Ming invited people to his tent today to eat strawberries.”
“Him? He never refuses anyone, doesn’t know how to say no, so many people shamelessly visit him.” Feng Miaojun smiled without warmth. “If you like strawberries, tomorrow I’ll take his ration for you.”
“Sounds good.” He didn’t show the slightest guilt about taking his subordinate’s food.
Tonight was a clear day, and the banquet was set up temporarily on the grain-drying ground. Yun Ya arrived unhurriedly, and the entire gathering was watching the three of them.
Feng Miaojun was already accustomed to such gazes. Her eyes immediately fixed on the general seated in the third position down from the Prince of Wei’s left, the only woman seated at the banquet.
General Mei Ji’s rank was not as high as the other generals, but as the adopted daughter of the sovereign, she naturally had a place here.
This female general had a standard oval face, long eyebrows extending to her temples, and almond eyes with a high nose. Because she often rode under the sun, her skin was a uniform honey color, with rare valor and charm among women. Her mouth was slightly wide with thick lips, far from the cherry-like small mouths in traditional beauty standards, but in Feng Miaojun’s view, she had character and style.
She wasn’t a traditional beauty, but certainly, some men would appreciate her. Feng Miaojun glanced at Yun Ya, who had just bowed to the Prince of Wei and sat down, lifting his robe.
After being seated, Xu Guangxiang was sitting diagonally across from him.
With everyone present, the Prince of Wei spoke some encouraging words and invited everyone to raise their cups and drink together.
Feng Miaojun stood slightly bowed behind Yun Ya, but she could feel Xu Guangxiang’s gaze sweeping over several times, observing both Yun Ya and herself.
Feng Miaojun would not mistake the way a woman looks at the man she loves, so she knew that Xu Guangxiang indeed had feelings for Yun Ya. She raised her chin slightly, and her eyes met directly with Xu Guangxiang’s.
The two beautiful women, each with their distinct charm, examined each other. There was amazement and emotion in Xu Guangxiang’s eyes, while Feng Miaojun’s gaze remained calm, so calm that others couldn’t discern her thoughts.
Then, Xu Guangxiang raised her cup and took a sip, actively breaking off this exchange of glances.