Xue Xingyue turned her head slightly, no longer looking into Xie Yunliu’s star-bright eyes. She feared a moment of delusion, mistaking Xie Yunliu for the person in her memories.
She merely had a feeling, so profound that she truly believed he was by her side.
Xie Yunliu gazed at her profile, her features so clear, yet so blurred. Her slender eyelashes, bathed in the candlelight, drooped slightly, trembling gently.
For some unknown reason, he wanted to stand up, to ease her sorrow.
Sorrow? He rose to his feet, then stood rooted to the spot.
Suddenly, he remembered. When he learned of the marriage contract, it had pierced his heart like a dagger.
She hadn't even waited for him to return before being betrothed to someone else by the current Emperor.
Xue Xingyue felt the footsteps behind her and looked up, only to see Xie Yunliu before her. His eyes, like stars on his jade-like handsome face, gazed at her.
There was a trace of sorrow in them that she couldn't comprehend.
“Do you want to sleep?” Xue Xingyue shifted, leaving most of the space for him.
“Yes, I want to sleep.” Xie Yunliu lowered his gaze slightly, not wanting Xue Xingyue to see through his thoughts.
Xie Yunliu lay down. The bedding was filled with her scent, a faint, indescribable fragrance that brought him a sense of peace.
As for her, she spread the fox fur he had given her on the ground, then took a quilt and covered herself with it, curling up inside.
He watched her slender, curled-up form, and a sudden ache filled his heart. She was guarding against him.
Xue Xingyue didn't remember when she fell asleep. All she recalled was that her body was very warm, incredibly warm, just like the feeling of being held in that person's arms. A faint scent of herbs lingered in her nostrils.
“Miss, Miss.” A familiar voice reached her ears. Xue Xingyue opened her eyes, then closed them again, convinced she was dreaming.
She was dreaming of Wu Hen, dreaming of Fei Yu.
“Miss, please open your eyes.”
Xue Xingyue suddenly stiffened. The first thing she saw was Wu Hen’s face. She sat up abruptly, startling Wu Hen, who cautiously said, “Mi… Miss.”
“Wu Hen, are you alright?” Xue Xingyue grabbed Wu Hen, examining her all over.
Wu Hen froze, tears welling in her eyes. She smiled, “This servant is fine, Miss. Look, this servant is completely unharmed.”
Xue Xingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Fei Yu beside her, asking, “And you? Are you injured?”
Fei Yu shook her head, “This servant is fine.” However, the hand hidden beneath her sleeve clenched tightly, betraying her emotions.
“What about Ta Xue? And Fei Yu?” Xue Xingyue asked anxiously.
Wu Hen replied, “They are all unharmed. Third Miss, please don't worry.”
“How did you get here?” This was where the Xie family army was stationed. Although Wu Hen and Fei Yu were dressed as men now, it was impossible for them to sneak into her tent.
“Of course, it required my permission.” A person entered the tent. It was none other than Xie Yunliu.
“Thank you!” Xue Xingyue felt genuine gratitude.
Xie Yunliu was slightly startled, then said, “They can stay with you, but there are no extra tents. You’ll have to make do until we return to the capital.”
“And you?” She had occupied Xie Yunliu’s tent; where would he sleep?
Xie Yunliu’s originally cold expression softened slightly upon hearing Xue Xingyue’s question. “I’ve already had someone prepare a tent for discussing military matters. I’ll be staying there.”
“Thank you!”
“We don’t need thanks between us.” Xie Yunliu glanced at Xue Xingyue and lifted the tent flap to leave.
“Miss, do you know General Xie?” Fei Yu suddenly asked.
Xue Xingyue looked at Fei Yu, puzzled. “No, is there a problem?”
Fei Yu shook her head, “It’s nothing.” It seemed, Master, you have another love rival.
“How… how is he?” Xue Xingyue asked after a long silence.
Wu Hen replied, “Master is very well. He’ll likely arrive at Zhenwu Pass soon.”
“What? He’s coming too?” Xue Xingyue was so shocked she almost stood up.
Wu Hen chuckled, “It seems only matters concerning Master can make Miss lose her composure.”
“Stop chattering.” Xue Xingyue reprimanded, but her heart felt sweet.
“Yes, Miss.” Wu Hen smiled.
“Alright, this is a military camp. From now on, don’t call me Miss. Call me Miss Xue.” Xue Xingyue turned her face away, not wanting Wu Hen to see through her thoughts.
“Yes.” Wu Hen replied.
Outside the tent, Xie Yunliu, listening to the voices from within, felt completely unsettled.
“Young General, the army is training. Would you like to inspect it?” Xie Wei approached Xie Yunliu and asked.
“Xie Wei, haven’t you sparred with me in a long time?”
Xie Wei nodded as if he understood, “Yes, Young Gen…”
Before Xie Wei could finish, he was suddenly thrown to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw. If it weren’t for the thick snow on the ground, he was sure his entire body would have fallen apart.
Before he could get up, Xie Yunliu grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.
“Young General, your subordinate can walk on his own,” Xie Wei shouted.
Xie Yunliu acted as if he hadn’t heard, dragging Xie Wei as if he were a chick. Every time Xie Wei got up, he was knocked down by Xie Yunliu.
Later, Xie Wei simply stopped trying to get up, allowing Xie Yunliu to drag him to the training ground.
Xie Yu, who was overseeing the training of the Xie family army, laughed at the sight and said with schadenfreude, “Xie Wei, did you offend our Young General?”
Xie Wei, already filled with anger, retorted, “Xie Yu, shut your mouth.”
Xie Yunliu suddenly let go of Xie Wei and lunged forward, standing before Xie Yu. He said coldly, “You spar with me.”
Before Xie Yu could react, he was forcefully thrown to the ground by Xie Yunliu. Soon, the two were locked in combat.
Xie Qing stepped forward and helped Xie Wei up, whispering, “Is the Young General having some issues?”
Xie Wei rubbed his sore backside and nodded, “Not ‘some’ issues, but ‘big’ issues. Without a word, he just threw me over his shoulder.”
Xie Qing chuckled, “So you went there just to be thrown around?”
“Don’t laugh at me. It’ll be your turn soon. Xie Yu isn’t a match for the Young General either,” Xie Wei said with a cold snort.
Just as Xie Wei finished speaking, Xie Yunliu fiercely threw Xie Yu onto the snowy ground. Xie Yu struggled a few times but couldn’t get up. Xie Qing felt an icy gaze directed towards where he was about to flee. He turned with a grin, “Young General…”
“Oh no, Young General, please be gentle!” Xie Qing was thrown so hard he was almost begging for mercy.
Xie Yunliu finally released Xie Qing after throwing him to the ground, making him unable to rise again. He then patted the snow off his armor and said coldly, “Get back to training. Can you defeat the Qi state like this?”
“Yes, Young General,” Xie Yu and the others responded. They knew it was best not to provoke the Young General when he was angry; that was their hard-won experience.