Chapter 125: Being Jealous is an Illness, It Needs Treatment!

  Lulongze is a good place, easy to defend and hard to attack, can be attacked and defended.

  This is also why Hassan insisted on holding onto it earlier.

  Now, the Northern Di army retreated to Lulong, and the Da Yan army took over this strategic pass. At nightfall, the generals who were sent to pursue the Khitans returned, having chased them for about 50 miles, and the Khitan leader had retreated with his main force to Danning.

  Kasai is a great general. Today, in the decisive battle, the sudden "loss of composure" of the war horse, Zhao Zun and Dongfang Qingxuan can see it, how could he not see it? So at the beginning of the confrontation with the Dayan army, he already knew that someone had taken his way, and began to arrange for the main force to retreat.

  At that time, the dead soldiers guarding Ludongze were only over 10,000, and the main force had basically withdrawn. Now, Beidi controls the territory of the north and even the entire Liaohe River basin, confronting Dayan, and its power is not to be underestimated. It can be said that it is not impossible for Dayan to retreat and eliminate Beidi, but at least it is not very possible in the short term. Ruling a region is easy, but ruling a nation is not an easy task?

  "Why fight and cause suffering and financial loss? Why can't we live in peace?"

  On the seventh day of summer, after having a sip of wine, he asked this question.

  At this time, the bright moon was hanging high in the dark sky, and she sat on a flat stone at the top of Lulong Mountain. The stars in the sky looked at her face, and beside her was Zhao Yun's strong and straight body, still wearing his helmet and armor, but without the sternness of the daytime.

  On the quiet mountain slope, the wind whispers gently.

  Several jars of wine were placed on the stone, emitting a strong aroma. Two people sat cross-legged at the top of Lulong Pass after being separated for nearly two months, looking down at the torches of Lulong Pass, drinking and chatting while watching the flames dance in their eyes. Their hearts also fluttered with them.

  She asked, but Zhao Zhuo didn't answer for a long time.

  "In Your Majesty's view, peace is defeat."

  "Victory and defeat, are they two different concepts?"

  "In your majesty's view, a concept."

  "For a self-indulgent, arrogant and condescending person, something like the peace talks that benefits the people's livelihood is indeed a kind of concession."

  She drank a lot of wine and her courage grew, using several derogatory terms to comment on the old emperor far away in the capital. She thought Zhao Zun would object, but he didn't say anything, only saying something irrelevant.

  "The world's pattern, separating and combining, is indeed like this."

  At the beginning of summer, she let out a soft "ah" and turned her eyes, glancing at him sideways, jokingly saying: "After a long separation, they must reunite, after a long reunion, they must separate? Oh my, sir, I didn't expect you to have Zhuge Liang's wisdom. Are you trying to steal the signboard of my 'Sleeping Tiger, Little Zhuge'?"

  Zhao Zun took a glance at her, tilted his neck and took a big gulp of wine, looking at the torches in the hands of the patrolling soldiers below, which were moving like dragons and snakes. On his bright and handsome face, there was a hint of a smile.

  "The first time I met you, you said you were a descendant of Zhuge Kongliang. Alas, what a garrulous woman who talks nonsense."

  That was last year, by the Qingling River.

  Xia Chuqi smiled and bumped into him, suddenly feeling like they had known each other for a long time.

  "Did you know I was talking nonsense back then?"

  "Nature."

  "Why not pursue and refute?"

  "Not worth it."

  "Hmph!" Xia Chuqi's throat itched, and she almost spat out the wine. She glared at him fiercely after coughing a few times, "Can't you say something pleasant for once? Like: 'The moment I saw you, I was conquered by your stunning looks and extraordinary intelligence, love at first sight, second sight, feeling the spark of fate, destined to be together in three lifetimes'?"

  "Cough! Cough! Cough!"

  This time, Zhao Zhuo was caught off guard.

  He coughed for a while, under the gaze of Xia Zhi's piercing eyes. He let out a careless sigh before looking at her seriously and saying: "A-Qi, although I want to leave some dignity for you, think about it yourself - if a woman suddenly pops up from the river, black as coal, with a mouthful of foul language... unless I'm blind, I'd be lucky not to kill you on the spot."

  "Zhao, ten, nine."

  Shouting out word by word, Xia Qi heard the sound of her own teeth grinding.

  "What's with the insults? You're spouting nonsense! Can't you see I'm trying to help? I've come all this way from south to north, risking life and limb to find you. I've endured countless hardships, narrowly escaped death who knows how many times... and now that I finally see you, you have the nerve to look down on me?"

  Complaints poured out of her mouth like beans from a bamboo tube, half-joking and half-serious. Zhao Zun pursed his lips, put down the wine jug in his hand, and wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her back with his palm, saying softly, "Ah Qi has suffered. The matter at Jicheng Inn, I will definitely give you an explanation."

  Humming in her mouth, Xia Qiuli rolled her eyes.

  "Consider yourself lucky."

  She knew his previous words were just a joke, and didn't hold it against him. She pushed away the tightly held arm, picked up the wine jug and handed it back to him. The two of them clinked together heavily, as she poured the wine into her belly, thinking about the assassination at the Ji Zhou Inn. Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.

  "Grandfather, isn't it strange? Today, after I blew up the Beidi army's grain depot and slid down from the mountain, I ran into Hasar. He only took one look at me and didn't say anything, then turned around and left with his men. At the time, seeing Li Jiao by his side, I thought he must be deeply in love with her and knew that I was her cousin, so he let me off. But just now, thinking carefully about it again, I feel that something's not quite right. Hasar suffered such a crushing defeat at Lulong Pass, my 'merit' wasn't small, he should have wanted to kill me, how could he possibly spare me for the sake of a concubine?"

  Hassar is a man.

  "Ah!" Xia Chuqi was stunned, "What does it mean?"

  Zhao You looked at her lightly, paused for a moment, threw the empty wine jar aside, and took out a crumpled paper from his pocket to hand it over to Xia Chuqi.

  "See for yourself."

  She took the note with a suspicious look, and under the bright moonlight, Xia Qi Qi unfolded it. A line of brush-written words was very clear in the moonlight. But as soon as she saw them, she felt suffocated. On top, it was written, "I respect you as a hero, release your woman, and return my sister to me. Between men, there's no need to use women as collateral."

  She softly said "okay".

  "How could that be? At that time, the Northern Di army had already retreated, and General Yang's troops were about to enter Lulong Pass. I had Feng and Lagula by my side, even if he was skilled enough to catch me, it wouldn't have been so easy. But if he stopped to catch me, he would have had to slow down his escape speed, perhaps hesitating for a moment, and might not have escaped at all. This is completely absurd!"

  She was so angry that she puffed out her cheeks and glared, feeling very indignant.

  Zhao Zhuang silently listened, took a sip of wine, and a dull "gulp" sound occurred in his throat.

  "Hassar shoots a hundred paces and hits his mark, if he wants to kill you, you can't escape."

  As a special forces operative who considered himself "excellent", Xia Chuyi was extremely unwilling to admit that what he said was true. Even more so, he did not want to be used as a hostage by Hasaer in exchange for Zhao Zhu without his knowledge or consent.

  "So what's your plan?"

  He didn't say anything.

  She saw it and raised an eyebrow, "You really want to return Wu Renxiao to him?"

  Under the moonlight, Zhao Zun's side profile was exceptionally handsome, with an inexplicable warmth. Xia Chuqi looked at her expectantly, hoping he would deny it. But after a slight hesitation, he nodded slightly.

  "I've already had Yuan You bring her over from Kai Ping Da Ying, she'll arrive in two days."

  "That's not fair!"

  "Very fair! Hassan has let you off with a whole chest, why can't I let his sister go?"

  "Why?" Xia Chunqi was somewhat annoyed, unwilling to ruin Zhao Zhu's plan with his own appearance. His tone also rose, "Zhao Zhu, this is obviously a trick by Hasar. He didn't even capture me, so why should we exchange?"

  Zhao Zhuo wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his eyes firm. "Aqi, he spared your life, and that's what matters most to me. Besides, a woman can't change the course of war, and I don't want to give people something to gossip about, do you understand?"

  I understand...

  She understands everything.

  Zhao Zun wants to see true chapter on the battlefield, whether or not Wu Ren Xiao Xiao is irrelevant.

  But she just couldn't swallow that tone of his.

  She let out a dejected hum, hugging her knees to her chest, and gazed at the patrolling torches below for a while before calming down. She turned her face sideways, her eyes shining as she looked towards Zhao Zhu.

  "So how do you plan to settle me? Today on the battlefield, everyone has recognized me as the princess of Beidi. How will you explain it? My identity cannot be exposed. Now that Zhao Mianze is regent and supervising the country, what if he finds trouble with you..."

  "I'll handle it." Zhao You circled her waist, wryly smiling: "Today's matter was my fault, I was rash and didn't think it through, causing trouble for everyone. Once Yuan You sends over Wu Ren Gongzhu, I'll send her away, that will be the end of it. And you..." He glanced at her, saying in a low voice, "Can only temporarily serve as my attendant and military doctor, there can't be women in the army."

  He heard him say something reckless and Xia Qi's heart sank.

  Reckless is not just him, but also herself.

  At that moment, she escaped from Hassar's hands and was eager to see him. As long as she saw him, everything was fine, and she didn't care what others thought or looked like. The emotions were uncontrollable, one hug was not enough, and she wanted a kiss. After the excitement passed, she finally reacted, how could Jingyi County Lord be in the capital, how could he appear on the northern battlefield?

  She smiled wryly to herself and playfully glared at him.

  "Oh, Your Highness's tone sounds like you're regretting kissing me in front of everyone?"

  Zhao Yu's lips curved downward, his arm tightened, and he kissed her forehead.

  "When did Grandfather ever say he regretted it?"

  "That's good." Xia Chuqi smiled softly, leaning into his arms, pointing at the bright moon on the horizon. "What's done is done, what's been impulsive has passed. Now it's too late to say anything, I don't even mind that you kissed 'the princess', and you shouldn't either. As long as we're together, everything is fine."

  She thought she spoke with deep feeling, but Zhao Nineteen didn't understand romance.

  He slapped her hand down and said in a low voice: "Don't point at the moon."

  "Will you cut off your ear?"

  "He..." He suddenly leaned in, his mouth covering her ear, and the low, masculine, rough breathing sound instantly made Xia Chuqi's face flush, no, it was her heart... that had gone numb, and her body softened. She fell entirely into his arms, until his warm lips moved from her earlobe to her own, tightly entwining with him once more.

  "Cough!"

  A loud and heavy coughing sound came from behind the mountain slope.

  On the seventh day of summer, she was startled and flustered, hurriedly straightening up her body and adjusting her clothes. Zhao Zun, however, remained calm and unruffled, still holding onto her with one hand, without turning his head, speaking in a low voice.

  "If it's about drinking, I'll invite you. If it's something else, forget it."

  "I'm here to drink, of course." A figure emerged, elegant and refined, surrounded by a sweet fragrance, looking like an immortal under the moonlight. His lips carried a gentle smile as he walked over, not feeling awkward at all, directly passing by the two people, and sat down on the other side of Xia Chuqi, smiling slightly.

  "Sorry to interrupt your pleasant conversation."

  Knowing it's disturbing, why still come?

  Came without saying, took someone's wine and drank a whole tank?

  After drinking, he didn't even say anything and just let out a rather uncouth belch?

  He didn't even mention the belch, and he smiled brightly at Xia Chuqi, wanting to drive her away.

  "Achu, there are many wounded soldiers down below, you should be of use somewhere."

  As a doctor, Xia Chuyi didn't mind treating patients during wartime, but Dongfang Qingxuan obviously wanted to drive her away, seemingly wanting to talk to Zhao Zhu alone, which made her very annoyed.

  "What's going on between you two that can't be said in front of me?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan brushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear and smiled, "A matter between men is not something a woman should interfere with."

  "Are you trying to seduce my man?"

  Another new term, Dongfang Qingxuan was taken aback and blurted out, "Play chicken?"

  Not only did he not understand, but Zhao Zhu was also puzzled and looked over. Fortunately, both of them were not fools and quickly associated the "chicken" in playing chicken with something else. Zhao Zhu's face turned black, silent and speechless, while Dongfang Yaoguai batted her eyelashes and laughed softly.

  "Alright then! In that case, I'll have a duel with His Highness, can you step aside?"

  "What's your basis?" Xia Chuyi provocatively raised her chin.

  "Alas, I got a good thrashing from His Highness for your sake."

  After saying that, he seemed to be afraid that she wouldn't believe him, so he stretched out his face and let her see the remaining purple marks on it. However, just as his head approached hers, a hand gently intervened and separated them. Moreover, the woman who was originally sitting next to him had already been moved to the other side by Zhao Zun.

  "Master of the East, please!"

  Looking at the wine jug handed over, Dongfang Qingxuan was stunned for a moment and smiled.

  "Your Highness is really nervous."

  Zhao Zun did not respond and instead gave him a cold, piercing stare.

  "If you don't want to drink, then leave!"

  Dongfang Qingxuan let out a sigh and stretched his body, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. The smile at the corner of his lips grew even wider as he raised his cup to toast the moon. He glanced sideways, "You didn't want her to see it, but she saw it anyway, right? Am I wrong, Ah Chu?"

  At the beginning of summer, Xia was not used to his affectionate nickname. Looking at Zhao's dark face, she glared at him and said, "General should just call me by my name. When you call me like that, I get goosebumps all over."

  Dongfang Qingxuan laughed again, "That's really a sin, Qingxuan thought that after watching you bathe at the guest house in Ji Zhou, our feelings for each other were already very good..."

  "Oriental Blue Vastness..."

  On the seventh day of summer, her face turned bright red with anger, and she wished she could strangle him to death.

  She saw that she was really angry, Dongfang Qingxuan smiled slightly and raised her lips to look at Zhao Zhu.

  "Qing Xuan was just joking, Your Highness mustn't believe it."

  Isn't this the case of "no silver here, three hundred taels"? He clearly didn't see anything, okay?! Xia Chuyi was furious, seeing that this guy had ill intentions and was intentionally teasing her. She hastily glanced at Zhao Zhu with a fiery gaze. But over there, nothing happened, and the two men even clinked their wine cups together.

  However, one was cold and stern, the other had a smile on his face, which made her heart skip a beat. She thought it was still better to retreat... Especially when she saw Zhao Zhu's expressionless face, as if he didn't object to Dongfang Qingxuan "driving" her away, they must have something they didn't want her to hear.

  She stood up and patted her knees, giving Dongfang Qingxuan a glare.

  "Who in life hasn't been beaten? Great, the beating was good. In my opinion, not only should it be a severe beating, but also with mother as the center, and with the ancestors of the past 5,000 years as the diameter, to launch a full-angle, 360-degree, no-dead-angle fierce interrogation!"

  She said something strange, stunning two men. But although she spoke fiercely, when she saw the discordant purple bruise on Dongfang Qingxuan's beautiful face, as a professional beauty for over 20 years, she really felt that it was a waste of heaven's gift. Without saying much, she took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and handed it over.

  "Alright, I'll let you off cheap! Take it and wipe your wound."

  ……

  ……

  Watching her disappear into the moonlight with a slender back, Dongfang Qingxuan played with the porcelain bottle in his hand, brought it to his nose and sniffed, then elegantly put it into his bosom, intentionally provoking someone's laughter.

  "It's still Chu Qi being kind-hearted."

  "The king didn't even know that Lord Dongfang was so poor he couldn't even afford medicine?"

  "Strategy." Ignoring Zhao Zun's cold sarcasm, Dongfang Qingxuan smiled harmlessly, with a hint of schadenfreude in his tone. "I just didn't apply the medicine, where is your cleverness, Your Highness? You knew I was coming and still played a good hand at being affectionate, intentionally showing off to me? Tianlu, I need to reevaluate you. They say that when a man has a woman in his heart, he becomes childish. I didn't believe it before, but now seeing you, I do."

  The Eastern Grand Commander ignored his own "childishness of not applying medicine", but blamed Zhao Kui's "childishness" instead, without batting an eyelid.

  But who is Zhao Zun?

  Killing without seeing blood, harming others is even more ruthless.

  He coldly said, "I can be intimate with her, can you?"

  "Hmm..." Dongfang Qing's eyes dimmed slightly, and he smiled slowly, "Your Highness Jin Wang, you have a deep fortune, Qing is inferior to you. But now that there are rumors of your involvement with the Northern Di Princess, how will you explain it to the imperial court?"

  Zhao You smiled coldly, "No need for Lord Dongfang to trouble himself."

  Eastern Qing Xuan seemed to smile but didn't quite smile, "After all, we were once brothers, so I'll show some concern."

  Zhao Zhu turned his eyes sideways, a chill ran down his spine, "Since you remember, don't provoke my woman."

  The Eastern Blue Mystic smiled, "A gentle and virtuous maiden, a gentleman's delight."

  "Dongfang Qingxuan——" Zhao Zun dragged out the words, with a hint of chilliness in his tone, "The people from Jizhou Inn, are they related to you?"

  Eastern Blue Mystic Phoenix's eyes narrowed, "Nothing."

  Quietly, Zhao Zun did not speak for a while. He looked at Dongfang Qingxuan for a long time, then suddenly raised the wine jug in his hand and gulped it down mouthful by mouthful until the jug was empty. Only then did he coldly ask, "So you're here to plead on someone's behalf?"

  Dongfang Qingxuan neither acknowledged nor denied, but merely shook the empty wine jug in his hand and smiled lightly as he gazed around, "Tianlu, how many years has it been since we last drank?"

  "It was just a little while ago," said Zhao Zhu, "at the celebration banquet."

  Dongfang Qingxuan didn't explain, only smiled and said "I'm alone." After saying that, he looked at Zhao Zhu's deep eyes again, and asked a question that was completely unrelated to the previous conversation, "Tianluo, do you regret it?"

  Zhao Zun did not look at him, his face expressionless, his tall and straight figure standing still.

  "Everyone has their fate, I have never regretted what I've done."

  Dongfang Qingxuan fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low tone, "Now that the position of Da Yan's heir is settled, you won't be able to turn things around even if you want to. The only thing you can do now is to manage the land on this side of Beiping well. Actually, being a vassal king isn't so bad, huh?"

  "Is the Eastern Lord being too nosy?" Zhao You looked at him coldly, paused for a moment, and then changed the subject, "Thanks for what happened at the Ji State Inn."

  "It's just a coincidence, Your Highness is overthinking it."

  "There's no such thing as coincidence in this world of ours."

  "You say so, then it is." Dongfang Qingxuan smiled, "Since Your Highness and I are being so polite, then as the imperial envoy monitoring the army, I should also exercise my supervisory powers. Tell me, Your Highness, although Ludong Pass is crucial, why didn't you take advantage of your victory to pursue and continue advancing, joining forces with Ding'an Hou to besiege Hasa'er?"

  "This involves military matters, I don't need to tell you about it."

  "Qing Xuan is the supervisor of the army, Your Majesty has personally granted him the power to intervene in military affairs."

  Zhao Mou let out a faint hum, his black eyes extremely deep in the night, "Now our army has pursued to the outside of the pass, these areas have been occupied by the Northern Di Army, men have been conscripted, people's food has also been requisitioned, post roads have been destroyed, and the imperial court's grain supply line has also been affected. It would be better for the Eastern Lord to go and investigate how long it has been since the imperial court last sent military rations? Ask him, how dare I recklessly advance?"

  The Eastern Blue Mystic Phoenix's eyes narrowed slightly, "Understood."

  ……

  ……

  Tonight, Ludongze is destined to be sleepless.

  After the war, the blood was still hot. The soldiers who participated in the Battle of Lulong Fortress were all drinking and eating meat to celebrate their victory. Unfortunately, the fallen generals and soldiers were buried on the banks of the Tunhe River at "Soldiers' Mound".

  A large pit was dug, and all the generals were buried. Zhao Zun ordered someone to set up a stone tablet in front of the tomb, on which he personally wrote "Tomb of the Martyred Generals of the Battle of Lulong Pass". At the same time, he composed a couplet of elegiac couplets, which was engraved on the tablet.

  The inscription reads: "Rushing to the boiling water and walking through fire, galloping a thousand miles to defend one's family and country; wrapping the corpse in horse hide and fleeing from ten thousand cavalry to protect the ancestral temple — Hong Tai 25th year, inscribed by Zhao Zun."

  In addition, the corpses of the Northern Di army that could not be taken away from the Lu Long Pass were also concentrated in one place by Zhao Kuo's order and buried on the other side. Out of respect for the dead, Zhao Kuo still erected a stele and personally wrote "The resting place of the Northern Di army officers and soldiers who died in the Battle of Lu Long Pass". This was so that when the war between Yan and Di ended, their families could find them.

  It's actually quite ironic that the two generals who were sworn enemies in life and killed each other, ended up being buried together. And now, they're still arguing over whose fault it was that they lost their lives, and who delivered the fatal blow by the banks of the Luan River.

  As long as there is war, there will be sacrifices.

  Soldiers do not ask about politics. When burning paper money for the fallen soldiers of the Great Yan army, Zhao Zhu also ordered people to burn paper money for the Northern Di army, so that they would have money to eat and drink in the afterlife. Victory or defeat is one thing, but every life deserves respect. No one opposed this action, and all the generals of the Great Yan army even poured a bowl of wine on the tomb of the Northern Di people as an offering.

  It's all over now that he's gone.

  Not numbness, just habit.

  No matter whether they were soldiers or generals, the survivors soon returned to normal. They could laugh loudly and celebrate with excitement. After the celebration, the generals all agreed with Dongfang Qingxuan's view and asked for orders to continue advancing on Danning, to avenge their brothers by washing Hasaer and Beidi in blood.

  But Zhao Kuo hesitated and did not give the order.

  This is extremely abnormal for Zhao Kui's past war history. Some people secretly speculate that General Wang has a woman and his courage has become smaller. However, no matter how much speculation, no one knows what Zhao Kui is afraid of after all. The Jinyiwei army is strictly disciplined, although some people discuss it, no one is dissatisfied. They follow Zhao Kui, always winning battles, for the soldiers, victory is a very good life guarantee, and they have absolute trust in him.

  Although no order was given to attack Danning, Zhao Zun submitted a report of victory to the imperial court in the name of the Northern Expeditionary General. On the one hand, it was to ask for credit for the generals who participated in the Battle of Lulong Pass. On the other hand, it also allowed the imperial court to issue policies to exempt taxes and rents for the war-torn areas that had experienced war fires, and ordered local gentry to reduce rents for the people, so as to quickly restore agriculture and let the common people breathe a sigh of relief.

  A memorial flew to the capital.

  Zhao Zhu returned to his living quarters with a body covered in night dew.

  On the seventh day of summer, she hadn't fallen asleep yet, and under the dim light of an oil lamp, she snuggled into his quilt, reading his military book - only that underneath the military book was a very powerful little yellow book.

  "What's so funny?"

  She looked very serious, heard Zhao's voice, and came back to her senses, hastily stuffed the small yellow book into the quilt, held the military book and fanned it, smiling like a fox.

  "Are you back?"

  Zhao Zun glanced at her and hummed softly, "No need to hide, I've already seen it."

  As soon as he said that, Xia Chuyi slightly hesitated for a moment, then frankly took it out and flipped it open in front of him, waving it gently, making soft "tsk" sounds with his mouth.

  "I say to Your Highness, the Honorable King of Jin, on a military expedition with a great enemy before us, you actually have such a book by your side. Don't you think you owe someone an explanation?"

  Zhao Zhen glanced at her lightly, took off his cloak himself, and removed the heavy general's armor from his body. His movements were elegant and noble, and his tone was calm and composed. From Xia Chuyi's perspective, it could be described as "not being ashamed, but rather taking pride", without even a hint of embarrassment on his face.

  "Marching and fighting can be dull, and it's normal for people to seek some relief occasionally. It's the same reason why one needs to eat when hungry and wear clothes when cold. Especially when I think of Ah Qi, if I don't read this kind of book, how am I supposed to get by?"

  "I'm going!"

  If what happened earlier was just embarrassing, then Xia Ziyuan is now humiliated.

  It seems that he only thought of the little yellow book when he was thinking of her. In other words, the little yellow book and Xia Chuyi can produce equivalent effects, solving someone's shameless physiological and psychological dual problems? Thinking about it made her feel a bit suffocated, so she glared over.

  "I should have searched the camp first, there might be a woman hidden."

  Zhao Zun's eyes twitched, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, as if he was smiling. But upon closer inspection, he wasn't actually smiling; his expression was serious and stern, "If you want a woman, do you still need to hide?"

  He ignored her "flying knife eyes" and went out in his underclothes, but soon came back with a set of ordinary soldier's clothes from the Great Yan army, which he placed on the bed.

  "Wear this tomorrow when you get up."

  On the seventh day of summer, she sat up and looked at the set of clothes with satisfaction. The clothes from inside to outside were all new, it seemed that Zhao Nineteen had prepared everything for her? Her eyes rolled around, she was about to thank him, but suddenly frowned, feeling like something was missing.

  "Hey, why didn't you prepare a breastband for me?"

  "Bind chest?" Zhao You looked at her in puzzlement, "What thing?"

  The gaze he was being scrutinized with made him feel a bit embarrassed, Xia Chuqi didn't know if he really didn't understand or just pretended not to understand, and with great annoyance, he gestured in front of himself, thinking that he had explained it clearly enough. Only then did he snort, "Without that thing, how can I disguise myself as a man?"

  "Ah!" Zhao Zun exclaimed, considering for a moment before lowering his face and sizing her up with a gaze that lingered for a while. He then smiled slyly and said, "I think it's not necessary, is it?"

  "What's that supposed to mean?" Xia Chuyi's face was still red, "Speak seriously."

  "Isn't Master being serious?" Zhao Zhu narrowed his eyes, and his tone was indeed very serious. "Master means to say that Ah Qi's body doesn't need to be bound by a chest wrapper, and it can't be told apart."

  Her cheeks suddenly flushed red, Xia Chuqi's feminine dignity was struck again, and she hated it so much that her teeth ached. In extreme anger, she hugged the clothes in her hand and threw them at him wildly, completely in a state of frantic madness.

  "Zhao, you're bullying me again... I won't coexist with you."

  "To be honest with you..."

  "You're still talking, you're still talking... I'll beat you to death."

  "Alright alright... I won't make a fuss anymore... Grandpa was just joking with you."

  In the midst of her violent and unbridled attack, Zhao's eyes lost their smile, he wrapped his arms around her entire body, holding it tightly, pulling her close to his chest, clearing his throat, and quickly changed the subject.

  "Ah Qi, are you sleeping at grandfather's place tonight?"

  What does she mean by "wants" to sleep here with him?

  Xia Chuqi was taken aback for a moment, casting a sideways glance at his serious face, and in her heart she understood that this was a wolf in sheep's clothing. She snorted, pretending not to understand, and gave him a hard push, smiling slyly: "I'm your personal attendant and external physician, aren't I? So, you and I sleeping in the same tent, isn't that very reasonable?"

  "Ah, very reasonable." Zhao Zun nodded solemnly, "The attendants can set up a bed on the ground."

  She glared at him with a "huff", Xia Chuqi's eyes were wide open like bronze bells, and she suddenly clenched her fists and punched him in the body, scolding "Bastard" before smiling and lifting her chin.

  "Alright, I'll sleep on the floor and give you the bed."

  Zhao You smiled softly and then let out a sigh, his hand tracing down her back as he said with a hint of amusement, "You look pitiful, so I'll allow it. You can sleep in my bed."

  "Since you're sincere, I'll let it pass and allow you to sleep on the floor."

  Two people sleeping together also need to bicker, but in the midst of arguing, who can smell the ambiguity and sweetness in the air. It's been so long since we've seen each other, who can bear to part ways at night? The bed is just a decoration anyway.

  Being General Wang's woman is different, Xia Chuyi enjoyed the different treatment from ordinary soldiers. When it was summer, the soldiers went to the river to take a cold bath, but Zheng Erbao ordered someone to bring a bucket of hot water for her to bathe in. As she was enjoying her bath, Zhao Zun instructed people to guard the camp and left himself. Xia Chuyi hadn't washed her body for many days, it felt so comfortable that at night when lying in his arms, she was lazy all over and didn't want to move at all.

  "Zhao Zhu..."

  "Huh?"

  "Are you asleep?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "Are you kidding me? You can still talk in your sleep?"

  She smiled softly and Zhao Zhu tightened his arms around her, pulling her head into the crook of his neck, but he didn't answer.

  These days, he has been marching day and night, worried about her safety, hardly sleeping a wink, most of the time just getting by with a few hours of sleep. But even if his body is exhausted and his heart is worried, he still can't show it. If the soldiers were to know that their great general Wang's heart is always thinking of a woman, it would shake the morale of the army.

  Apart from battlefield matters to be arranged, the imperial court had to report three times a day, and local officials had various trivial matters. Every day, various military affairs and memorials entangled him, plus years of war had left his body with many accumulated illnesses...

  "Why aren't you speaking?" Xia Chuqi raised her head and looked at him.

  "You speak, I listen."

  She stroked the faint stubble on his chin, feeling a little heartache.

  "Zhao Zhuo, you've lost weight and also got darker."

  "Isn't it great without Dongfang Qingyun?"

  He responded extremely quickly, completely unlike his previous laziness, and it was clear that he had a strong vinegar flavor. Xia Chuqi couldn't help but laugh and get angry at the same time, and she let out a low snort before poking him with her finger.

  "Are you jealous?"

  He didn't answer.

  "Eating vinegar is an illness, it needs treatment!"

  He still didn't answer.

  I knew this guy was stubborn, so I didn't want to tease him again on July 7th.

  She hugged him tightly and chuckled softly, "What he said on the mountain slope earlier, you don't have to take it seriously. In Jizhou, he did save me, but as for me and him..." She suddenly thought of Dongfang Qingxuan's light kiss on her lips and Xia Chuyi felt a bit short of breath, clearing her throat before continuing, "I really didn't do anything with him, and he didn't see me bathing either... you can rest assured."

  "Grandfather knows." Zhao You hummed, "Otherwise, could he have been let off lightly?"

  "Hmph!" Xia Chuqi sneered at him with a low laugh, "Do you know why your mood isn't high?"

  Zhao Yu did not answer immediately, steadied her body, pressed down her high head and put it in his arms before closing his eyes. Just when Xia Chuqi thought he wouldn't respond, she heard him say something softly.

  "A Qi, I'm not a god... I'm tired."

  As soon as the summer began, her throat tightened and a string in her heart suddenly pulled tight. She stretched out both hands to tightly encircle his waist, so tightly that it seemed as if she wanted to merge with him into one body, so tightly that from his breathing alone, she could feel his exhaustion and deep despair. But she didn't know how to comfort him, all she could do was hold him tighter and tighter, only able to keep rubbing her head against his chest.

  "What's going on?"

  He spoke in a low voice, his tone hoarse.

  "What's wrong? I didn't cause any trouble!"

  She looked up at him in confusion, her eyes sparkling brightly.

  “Fox charm!” He muttered a curse under his breath, suddenly lowered his head and forcefully bit her slightly open mouth. Xia Chuqi cried out in pain and was about to yell at him, but he took advantage of the momentary lapse and collided with her lips, brutally invading her oral cavity, domineering and overbearing, kissing her until her eyes widened, momentarily stunned, unable to react, could only helplessly swallow, then reluctantly accepted his affection, bringing out a wave of helpless numbness, from the spine upwards, exciting her to shiver involuntarily.

  "Dad!"

  He seemed to wake up with a start and held her tightly in his arms, stopping there.

  "Sleep."

  On the seventh day of summer, she gritted her teeth in embarrassment and reached out to grab him.

  "After all this, can you still sleep?"

  Helplessly, Zhao Zhu wrapped her mischievous hands in his palms and scolded in a low voice, "Little ancestor, if you don't want your grandfather to die here, then stop moving around."

  With a sly glint in his eye, Xia Chuqi looked at him and said, "Who told you to bully me earlier?"

  He sighed and said, "Alright then, let's call it even."

  Seeing his eyes on fire and his body tense, Xia Chuqi didn't dare tease him anymore.

  She obediently wrapped her arms around his waist, her body close to his, feeling extremely at ease.

  It was the same barracks of Ludong, it was the same cool night, but tonight and last night were completely different. Everything in front of her was so beautiful that she suddenly had a kind of unreal illusion.

  She came from afar and finally hugged Zhao Zhuo, sleeping in his quilt.