In her sleep, she was restless and dreamed a lot. She dreamed that she received the offer of Department of Media of University H of City A, that Mou Yichen walked to her carrying the bear toy, and that her father and Xuanxuan were crying bitterly for her. In the dream, she walked up to them and wanted to comfort them and tell them she was good; however, when she reached out her arms to hug her father, she touched nothing and she tried and failed. She cried out, “Dad, dad…”, but her father seemed not to hear her.

“Wake up, Xiao Xi, wake up!” Duanmu Gongyu shook Yun Muxi nervously, trying to wake her up from nightmares. He was scared by her crying and yelling looks in her sleep.

Yun Muxi opened her eyes, and tears wetted her face and the pillow. There was grievance in her tearful big eyes as she saw Duanmu Gongyu. Duanmu Gongyu was heartbroken seeing her looks. Yun Muxi threw herself into Duanmu Gongyu’s arms and cried out loud like a wronged child.

“Duanmu Gongyu, I… dreamed of my father and Xuanxuan, they… looked sad… for they could not find me. They cried so bitterly… I… wanted to hug and comfort them, but no matter how I tried… I couldn’t touch them… and they… seemed not to see me. I… missed them so much, missed my home. They… must be sad… failing to find me…” Yun Muxi cried out of breath, and her words broke and halted sometimes.

Duanmu Gongyu had a completed feeling in his heart as he hugged Yun Muxi in his arms. He could not bear to see her crying so bitterly; it pained him, and he felt as if his heart were clutched and stabbed again. The pain almost choked him.

He did fear that she would leave him one day. If she were to return to her home, she would no longer feel sad and miss her home, but what should he do by then? Once he thought that she would disappear from his life, he would feel his life came to an end.

Duanmu Gongyu fondler her back and comforted her in a soft voice. “Good girl, don’t cry. It pained me seeing your crying face. Your father and Xuanxuan will be good, and you should take care of yourself as well. I’m here with you, and will be with you forever. They will be good so as not to have you worry about them, so, you should be good as well and not let them worry. If they know you lead an unhappy life here, they will feel sad too. So, no more cry, good girl…”

Duanmu Gongyu’s comforting voice was as soft as cotton, setting her heart at peace. Yun Muxi gradually stopped crying but still sobbed. Duanmu Gongyu patter her back again and again, gently saying, “Don’t cry, Xiao Xi, it’s going to be fine…”

He felt it so good to be able to see the one he loved when he woke up in the morning and kiss her every day. It would be even better if she took the initiative to kiss him. Duanmu Gongyu could not help but be lost in his thought. Yun Muxi suddenly woke up from her sadness and saw Duanmu Gongyu’s handsome face near her; she was startled and screamed. “Hey, what are you doing? Why you don’t stop scaring me even in the morning.”

“Good morning, Xiao Xi.” Duanmu Gongyu was in a good mood, and he sounded pleased.

Yun Muxi felt weird seeing Duanmu Gongyu’s strange behaviors. There was no free lunch in the world, so, he must be up to something. She covered Duanmu Gongyu’s forehead and said, “You didn’t have a fever, but why you behaved like a donkey?”

“Behaved like a donkey?” Duanmu Gongyu furrowed his eyebrows for he did not catch her words, but he could tell she was obviously not praising him.

On the one hand, Yun Muxi meant to make fun of him; on the other hand, she could not just tell him that she was saying he was stupid, so, she explained, “Well, behaving like a donkey means you’re handsome. In the world I came from, we usually use ‘donkey” to praise a man. You look so good just now when you woke up, so I meant you look handsome.”

Yun Muxi felt quite amused in secret. She could not help admiring herself and laughed to herself.

However, before she had enough enjoyment of the joke, her tragedy came.

“Xiao Xi, you’re beautiful as a donkey,” Duanmu Gongyu said with a smile.

Yun Muxi almost bit off her tongue. She finally understood the feeling of shooting oneself in the foot. “Yun Muxi, Yun Muxi, you’re so…” Yun Muxi felt a little regret.

She said with a cold face, “Well, you can’t praise me with that word. It’s used to praise only men, not women.” Yun Muxi tried to convince him, but could he be convinced?

“Alright. Let’s get up, we have to set this morning, don’t we?” Yun Muxi changed the topic quickly to avoid being made fun of again.

…

After preparing everything and having breakfast, Duanmu Gongyu had Dong Fangying, Xi Fangchi, and Nan Fangjing escort Yun Muxi outside the city, where Duanmu Gongyu would meet them later. He dared not to bring Yun Muxi with him in public because after all, they were marching to the battlefield. If his father knew that he brought a woman with him to the battlefield, Yun Muxi would be put into danger.

Moreover, if his big brother, who coveted Yun Muxi, knew that he brought Yun Muxi with him, his brother would come to stop them or do something against them in secret. Thus, it’s better to keep Yun Muxi’s whereabouts a secret.

Once they were out of the city, they would be free from the emperor or the scouts in the city and would be safer. Nevertheless, they still needed to keep a low profile along the way.

Duanmu Gongyu appeared at the entrance of the royal palace on time and gathered the army, ready for the marching. The emperor saw him out in person.

Before Duanmu Gongyu set off, the emperor said to him, “My son, I’m waiting for you to return with victory. I always believe you’re the most capable one among your brothers. I’m getting old, you and your brothers should grow up now. I’m proud of all of you and trust you. Take care, my son.” The emperor patted on Duanmu Gongyu’s shoulders as he spoke.

Duanmu Gongyu was touched on hearing the words. His father had not talked to him or praised him like that for a long time, and he had not felt any care or love from his father for a long time either.

The emperor’s words tugged Duanmu Gongyu’s heartstrings. He stared at his father’s weathered face.

The emperor was indeed getting old. His hair turned grey, wrinkle covered his face, and his voice sounded hoarse.

To Duanmu Gongyu’s surprise, he found he cared for his father in fact. He longed for his father’s love and hoped that if only he had not been born in a royal family but a normal family with a happy life and love from his parents and companion from his brothers. The family did not have to be rich or perfect but happy.

It turned out that he had always been eager for such a life, but he had the hope hidden deep in his heart. Maybe when he returned from the battlefield, he should pay more attention to his old father.

Some words of care awoke Duanmu Gongyu’s heart that longed for love. It could be told that he was not a cold man, but a man who disguised his injuries with coldness.

The emperor’s words moved Duanmu Gongyu but also alarmed Duanmu Gongcheng. Duanmu Gongcheng narrowed his eyes into a line, and a sharp light flashed within his eyes. At the thought that his father never gave up his hope on Duanmu Gongyu, Duanmu Gongcheng turned ruthless. He realized that his father still valued Duanmu Gongyu most and that he should take an action as soon as possible to solve Duanmu Gongyu forever.

He felt that his power, which he strengthened through efforts, was threatened. He had to take the initiative to attack first… Duanmu Gongcheng cursed in secret and yelled to himself. “Don’t blame me for being cruel, Duanmu Gongyu. You only have yourself to blame for you’re too outstanding and excellent. I have to take precautions against you.”

Duanmu Gongyu bade farewell to the emperor and Duanmu Gongcheng. He turned around and had the army ready for the march in a domineering way. As his forceful voice sounded in the place, the army set off under his order. Those who came to see the army off all felt excited and thrilled upon seeing the strong soldiers in high spirits.

Duanmu Gongyu jumped onto a horse, sat straight, and raised his head with a cold expression on his face. As he lifted the whip high and pressed against the horse belly with his legs, he rushed to the front of the army like an arrow, followed by two vice generals on his right and left side.

Duanmu Gongyu’s handsome face and valiant and heroic aura captured the hearts of countless girls who came to see the army off, and his dignity and domineering aura impressed many men present.

The girls murmured with their eyes full of adoration for him.

“Wow, His Highness looks so handsome!”

“I’d love to do anything to marry His Highness, even if my lifespan were to decrease by ten years!”

“Oh, His Highness is so handsome. He is my dream lover.”

“When His Highness returns with victory from the battlefield, I’ll try my best to start a relationship with him.”

“So handsome, His Highness is a man of beauty, wisdom, power, aura, and status… Oh, he is an excellent young man.”

“I’ve never seen any general so handsome in that armor.”

“I’m wondering which woman will be so lucky to marry him. Whoever she is, she is the luckiest woman in the world.”

(At the moment, Yun Muxi sneezed loudly…)

…

The women present could not help praising Duanmu Gongyu and were dying to marry him.

At the moment, discussions broke out among men as well.

“It’s an honor to follow such a handsome commander to fight!”

“His Highness Prince Yu is the most outstanding one among the princes. Why is such a talent prince not the heir of the throne?”

“I’ll work harder to improve my martial arts, so one day, I could serve His Highness.”

“Well, it’s really a waste to have such a talent act as a general.”

“His Highness Prince Yu is the chosen one. He is the best among his peers.”

…

The men present could not stop praising Duanmu Gongyu and all regarded him as a good example to follow. Some of them vowed to be his subordinate while some even thought he should assume the throne.

The emperor wore a proud smile on his face. He was so proud of Duanmu Gongyu, his most excellent son. Taking in the praise the onlookers let out, he felt so pleased.

However, Duanmu Gongcheng looked grave at the moment. “Damn you, Duanmu Gongyu. You declared you had given up the throne, but in fact, you are so crafty to have drawn so many people over to your side. What’s worse, you even won support from Father.”

Duanmu Gongcheng’s original plan was to draw Duanmu Gongyu to the southern border so that he could get Yun Muxi when Duanmu Gongyu was far away. He also heard that this time, their enemies, the invaders of the Zhouyue Country, had a master as their military counselor and thus were hard to defeat and even managed to frustrate the soldiers of the country of Mu Xia. If Duanmu Gongyu was killed on the battlefield, the thorn in Duanmu Gongcheng’s flesh would be removed, and Duanmu Gongyu would be proved to be an useless man.

However, Duanmu Gongcheng had never thought that everything would go against his will and his plan, which seemed to be practical, was upset at the very beginning.

Duanmu Gongcheng made up his mind in secret…