Xin Zhui felt ill.
And seriously so.
Ever since learning the truth, the General in his eyes was no longer the General, but rather, the Lady.
Every smile and frown of Jiang Xingyan, though housed within Huo Ci’s body, was completely transformed in Xin Zhui’s imagination into what she should truly look like.
He found himself constantly amazed by Jiang Xingyan each day.
Wasn’t the General’s wife a young lady from a sheltered boudoir? How could she be so enduring?
She just slept leaning against the wall like the soldiers, fully clothed?
Even if there were no conditions to set up a tent, they could at least have made her a bed of straw or something.
She’s so impressive, she knows so many stories.
Even if some of them are quite frightening.
He increasingly felt that the General was a scoundrel.
How could someone as wonderful as the General’s Lady be a person of low character?
It’s just too hateful!
Far away in the capital, Huo Ci, after sneezing for the one hundred and eighth time that day without being diagnosed with a cold, finally concluded that someone was cursing him behind his back.
“Who is it!”
Yun Chunfeng picked up Xiao Ya, shot him a disdainful look, turned, and walked away: “Weirdo. Would I curse you behind your back? I usually curse you to your face, and if that doesn’t satisfy me, I throw in some punches.”
Huo Ci was speechless.
It made perfect sense; he had no rebuttal.
“And the Young Lady is even less likely. She simply doesn’t have the time to think of you.”
Huo Ci’s mood plummeted. He hid in a corner, silently shedding tears.
Xiao Ya looked back at Yun Chunfeng in surprise, only to see him smiling amiably, with a harmless demeanor, yet the words he spoke were quite cutting.
Uncle is not someone to be trifled with!
But, only someone like this can protect A’niang properly.
Xiao Ya pouted, missing her A’niang terribly.
Suddenly, a sweet candy found its way into her mouth.
Yun Chunfeng gently patted her back: “Whenever you miss A’niang, have a candy. A’niang will be able to feel Xiao Ya’s longing.”
Jiang Xingyan, leading five hundred elite cavalry, finally arrived at the location mentioned in the Second Prince’s urgent dispatch late at night on the Xinchou day, after two nights of forced march.
Whoosh!
Before they could catch their breath, countless black-clad figures drawing fully taut bows sprang up all around them.
Arrows notched and aimed directly at them.
The leader shouted sharply, “Password!”
Although Jiang Xingyan hadn’t met the Second Prince, Xiao Zhenhuai, the detailed urgent report and these precautionary measures indicated his extremely meticulous and cautious nature.
She replied in a low voice, “Chong Shan.”
The other party responded, “Die Wu! Is that General Huo?”
“Yes!”
The surrounding guards immediately lowered their bows. The deadly atmosphere eased slightly.
“I am Captain Su Mo. The situation is critical, my apologies for the rudeness. I hope the General will be magnanimous. This way, please. His Highness the Second Prince has been awaiting your arrival for some time!”
Jiang Xingyan dismounted and followed Su Mo inside.
The urgent report had stated that to avoid alerting the enemy, Xiao Zhenhuai was temporarily staying at an abandoned farmhouse outside Qingzhou City.
Xin Zhui still tried to follow, but was stopped by the guards at the entrance.
“General, I need to go with you.”
“General Huo, please have the soldiers rest outside the compound for now. His Highness the Second Prince has important matters to discuss with you alone.”
Jiang Xingyan nodded. It was best for as few people as possible to know the full operational plan.
“Xin Zhui, replenish your strength and await orders.”
Xin Zhui watched resentfully as Jiang Xingyan walked into the inner room, the door shutting firmly and cutting off his view of her retreating back.
He felt wronged and discontented: Before, no matter how confidential the military discussions, the General always took him along.
It suddenly struck him: To Huo Ci, he was like a sworn brother. But in the eyes of the General’s Lady, he was just one among the many soldiers.
Perhaps even an accomplice who was in cahoots with the General.
A sudden sense of crisis washed over Xin Zhui.
He must perform well and strive to earn the status of an ‘insider’ in the General’s Lady’s eyes as soon as possible!
Jiang Xingyan was unaware of his extensive internal monologue.
Upon entering the room, her eyes immediately fell on a slender figure wrapped in a silver-grey squirrel fur cloak, warming himself by the fire.
The corner of her mouth twitched.
It was already late spring, the third month.
Although the north was indeed colder than the capital, was this really necessary?
The sweltering heat instantly caused Jiang Xingyan, clad in full armor, to break out in a light sweat.
“Please forgive the amusement, General Huo. Zhenhuai has been frail since childhood and cannot bear the slightest chill. The nights in the north turn bitterly cold suddenly, hence the brazier.”
Perhaps guessing Jiang Xingyan’s thoughts, Xiao Zhenhuai explained as he turned around.
His handsome face, flickering in the firelight, still showed no trace of color, presenting a truly sickly and weak appearance.
Jiang Xingyan then remembered that she had been too busy with her internal criticism to formally greet the Second Prince.
Feeling a wave of embarrassment, she promptly dropped to one knee, clasping her fists in a respectful salute: “I pay my respects to Your Highness, the Second Prince.”
Xiao Zhenhuai was secretly startled.
On the occasions he had met Huo Ci, the man usually exuded a fierce, martial aura.
Though known as a ‘scholar-general’, he was always upright and straightforward, never displaying such an awkward, almost coy demeanor.
It was more like that of a young maiden.
How very strange!
Although Xiao Zhenhuai’s expression remained unchanged as he returned the courtesy, a seed of doubt was planted in his mind from that moment on.
“Bring the topographic maps of the two mines for General Huo.”
Su Mo came forward, presenting several maps.
Jiang Xingyan took them and began looking through them. The two mines were named Kan Mountain and Hou Mountain. Combined, their shapes resembled a kind of musical instrument popular in the western regions – the Kanhou.
The maps detailed the enemy’s defensive deployments and transport routes at the front of the mountains and the foothills. They even marked specific clumps of trees and large boulders that could provide cover.
The ink on the maps was fresh, clearly drawn not long ago. Presumably, the Second Prince had sent scouts and had these drawn based on their reports. The rear mountains, being closer to Beiluo and harder to access, were not mapped.
She couldn’t help but think more highly of this Second Prince.
He was so much better than that inscrutably profound Xiao Chonghua!
After just a few glances, Jiang Xingyan’s eyes settled on a particular col on the front side of one mountain.
Now, this looked like a promising spot.