Chapter 165: Is He Dependable?

Dead Naye soldiers sprawled all over the front and back yards. Su Jiu took a deep breath. Even the air tasted of blood. She tossed aside the long knife, wiggled her sore arm, and marched through the field of corpses.

The village was still quiet. Su Jiu walked around throughout the village and finished off all the Naye soldiers on patrol. She then returned to the man’s home, where she found the whole family still hiding inside. Upon seeing Su Jiu covered in blood, they stepped out and gawked at her with widened eyes.

“You… you killed all the Naye soldiers?” the man asked.

With a faint nod, Su Jiu took out the two butcher knives and handed them over. She said nonchalantly, “For you. Thanks!”

Gaping at Su Jiu, the man took the knives with a trembling hand.

Su Jiu turned to leave, then abruptly stopped at the door. “If foreign armies invade again in the future, you will have to report at once!” She turned to the man and continued, “Otherwise, surrendering to the enemy would only lead to your demise.”

Dumbfounded, the man nodded as he watched the girl’s departing figure vanish into the distance.

Su Jiu headed out of the village, following the same path she had come from. She had been gone for over two hours. Chang Huan and Nangong Bi must have been worried sick.

Yet, before she exited the woods, footsteps and hollers sounded behind her. Su Jiu stopped and turned around, only to see more than 20 villagers running her way. All of them were in rags, and they were visibly emotional. Leading the crowd, the skinny man hurried over and plonked down on his knees, with the others following suit.

“Thank you for saving us!”

“Thank you for killing the Naye soldiers!”

“You have rescued the entire village!”

“You saved all of our lives!”

…

The ravaged villagers burst into tears. They proceeded to kowtow incessantly, weeping and hollering.

Su Jiu stood quietly. A light breeze brushed across her softening face. The frigid northern weather seemed to be melting into a warm spring day.

“Please get up,” Su Jiu said softly, “The foreigners will be driven out, and the war will come to an end. Have faith in the Daliang warriors, who will restore peace and prosperity into your lives!”

“Indeed! Long live Daliang Country! Long live the Daliang warriors!”

“10,000 years!”

The villagers chanted in unison, tears streaming down their cheeks.

Su Jiu turned to leave, her lips curling into a faint smile. Just then, she abruptly stopped and gawked ahead.

A man in a black robe appeared in the woods, gazing at her unblinkingly. Sunlight reflected in his deep, glistening eyes.

Su Jiu walked over. As she approached the man, she suddenly recalled that she was still wearing the Naye battle robe stained with mud and blood.

Just as she was about to take off the robe, Xiao Lie abruptly dashed over and hugged her tightly.

As she felt the man’s chest pressing against hers, Su Jiu could sense how tense he was. “Everything is alright!” She smiled and said, knowing her companions had been worried sick. “I bumped into a few Naye soldiers, and I took care of them.”

“Ah Jiu…!” The man’s voice was husky.

Behind them, the villagers’ chanting and weeping echoed into the woods. Locked in an embrace, the man and woman could hear each other’s heartbeats.

Su Jiu feigned nonchalance and reassured, “Don’t worry. I don’t die easily.”

The man took a deep breath, the warmth of which brushed against Su Jiu’s neck. It felt so soothing, and almost burning hot.

“Chief! Chief!”

“Su Jiu!”

The voices of Chang Huan and the gang came from a distance. Su Jiu instinctively broke away from the embrace. Xiao Lie slowly rose to his feet and studied her blood-stained cheeks. He asked with a frown, “Are you hurt?”

“No!” Su Jiu shook her head.

Xiao Lie relaxed somewhat. He took out a silk kerchief and wiped Su Jiu’s cheeks clean. His movements were gentle, careful not to cause any pain.

Su Jiu removed her battle robe and tossed it aside in disgust.

A figure dashed over. It was none other than Chang Huan, who clutched Su Jiu’s hands with concern. “Where did you go, Chief?” he asked, visibly nervous and emotional.

Before Su Jiu could answer, the villagers volunteered to tell the whole story of how Su Jiu had vanquished all the Naye soldiers in the village.

Nangong Bi and Ah Shu also hurried over. “There were Naye soldiers here?” they frowned. “You killed them all, Su Jiu? All by yourself?”

Ah Shu shouted, “Why didn’t you call us, Chief? We would’ve loved to kill those barbarians!”

Chang Huan was still recovering from the scare, his face slightly pale.

“Everything’s fine now. We’d better get going. We have to return to the barracks before it gets dark!” Su Jiu chuckled and strode out of the woods.

Despite having walked a distance away, they could still hear the villagers’ cries of gratitude.

Nangong Bi asked Su Jiu how she had discovered the Naye soldiers. The village wasn’t far from the town, but it was nestled at the foothill and surrounded by woods. It was not an easy task to locate it.

Su Jiu told them what had happened, from how her knapsack had been stolen, to how she had tracked the thief to the village occupied by the Naye soldiers.

“The Naye soldiers are despicable. I want to kill them all!” Nangong Bi gritted her teeth and continued, “You did an amazing job, Su Jiu!”

“If it ever happens again, you have to count us in, Chief!” Ah Shu followed with determination.

The three of them continued to talk about the battle, while Xiao Lie remained silent, an ambiguous light glimmering in his eyes.

Su Jiu walked over to him and said in a low voice, “The soldiers were led by He Da, the one who escaped from the shore of River Gugu the other day.”

Xiao Lie looked over, and their gazes met. The same thought came to both of their minds: He Da had survived; why hadn’t Luo Sheng reported accordingly?

When Luo Sheng had reported to Nangong Shu, he had clearly said that He Da and his men had all perished.

Yet, He Da had successfully fled with 200 of his men.

If only the soldiers had managed to flee, it would make sense that Luo Sheng hadn’t been aware of such an occurrence. However, he would surely have known about the commander’s escape.

Something was not right about Luo Sheng.

Xiao Lie and Su Jiu reached the same conclusion, which they decided to keep to themselves.

Upon reaching the township, they found their carriage and proceeded to head back to the barracks.

On the way, Nangong Bi told Su Jiu that they had waited for her in the restaurant for a long time. Having realized she was missing, the gang had become worried, so they searched the whole town to no avail.

They knew well that Su Jiu was well-trained in martial arts. However, her having vanished in an unfamiliar town surely made everyone gravely concerned.

Then, a beggar told them that he had seen Su Jiu headed in the southeast direction.

The four then fanned out and kept on searching.

“Sorry to have made you all worry!” Su Jiu smiled apologetically.

Chang Huan and Ah Shu were serving as coachmen, while Xiao Lie sat next to Su Jiu in the carriage. He slowly reached out and held her hand under the robe, gazing longingly at her. “Indeed, I was worried sick.”

The sky was darkening. In the dim carriage, Su Jiu saw the man’s thin, red lips, as well as his glistening eyes. Everything was gradually imprinted into her vision.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she averted her gaze. Something was different about Xiao Lie. Very different from before.

Sitting across from the two, Nangong Bi was watching them with a faint grin. She turned to look out of the window, whistling a cheerful tune.

The carriage wheels rattled. Yet, it was quiet and peaceful inside the cabin. Only Nangong Bi’s whistling was audible. Its melody was soft and intoxicating, carried away by the gentle wind.

Xiao Lie continued to hold onto Su Jiu’s hand, and he didn’t want to let go.

The carriage swayed on, and Su Jiu took a nap. When she woke up, it was already dark. Surprised to find her head leaning on Xiao Lie’s shoulder, she moved back briefly.

“You awake?” the man lowered his head, as well as his voice.

Rubbing her temples, Su Jiu parted the drapes to look out the window. They have arrived at the barracks, with the front gate towering before them.

Hu Dapao could be seen standing at the gate. He was yelling at Pan Gang and the soldiers while pacing back and forth, visibly anxious and irritated.

As the carriage came to a halt, Hu Dapao immediately hurried over. With his anger and concern surging up, he pointed at Ah Shu and Chang Huan and shouted aloud, “Where did you take His Royal Highness and our Chief? Look how late it is! Don’t you have any idea where we are?”

The man had been worried to no end in the past couple of hours. Had something happened to Su Jiu or any of her companions, Hu Dapao would have to pay with his life.

Ah Shu did not take Hu Dapao’s scolding well and retorted, “Stop playing general to us! We’re not your subordinates. It’s none of your business wherever we go.”

“In that case, get your *ss back to Shengjing City!” Hu Dapao blurted out in fury.

“Dapao!” Chang Huan hollered to stop him.

Ah Shu glared at Dapao, clenching his fists as if he was ready to lunge over for a fight.

Chang Huan hurriedly grabbed his arm. “Stop it,” he stated coldly, “Our Chief and His Royal Highness are still in the carriage.”

Wham! The carriage door flew open and Nangong Bi hopped out. “What a big man you are, General Hu!” She shot Dapao a harsh stare. “Do you plan to shout at Su Jiu and me, too?”

Hu Dapao turned frozen, his anger dissipating in an instant. Upon seeing Xiao Lie and Su Jiu getting out of the carriage, he knelt on one knee. “I wasn’t aware of your presence, Your Royal Highness. Please forgive my insolence.”

“Please get up, General Hu,” Xiao Lie said nonchalantly, “We were delayed today. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“Forgive me, Your Highness!”

Hu Dapao rose to his feet, his face ghastly pale. He glanced over at Su Jiu, then lowered his head in shame. He pleaded solemnly, “I was overwhelmed by anger, Boss. Please forgive my discourteous words.”

Ah Shu let out a cold grunt.

“What was that?” Hu Dapao turned to him. “It was your fault to have put our Chief and His Royal Highness in harm’s way. What if they got hurt? I’ll deal with you later!”

“Later my foot! I’m not going to stay in this shabby place!” Ah Shu grabbed Su Jiu’s hand, with no intention to conceal his anger. “Let’s get out of here, Chief!”

Knitting a deep frown, Hu Dapao blocked his way. “Where are you going? It’s late!”

“Back to Shengjing City we go!” Ah Shu shoved him aside. “We made our trip here at night. No need to wait for daylight to head back!”

Hu Dapao stumbled, and his face dropped. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he held onto Ah Shu’s arm and lowered his head. “I’m sorry, I take back what I said. I’m the one to blame. I was just very worried about all of you. It is wartime, and I don’t want you to be entrapped like how I was before.”

“Don’t go, Brother,” he let out a long breath and continued, “You know how much I want to stay with all of you. Back in the mountains, I thought I would never see you again.”

Ah Shu quivered briefly. He took in a deep breath, turned his head, and gazed into the distant mountain range.

“Enough already.” Su Jiu put a hand on Ah Shu’s shoulder. “It was indeed our fault this time. When in the barracks, we ought to obey the military rules. Dapao is right to scold us.”

“What do you mean he’s right?” Nangong Bi rebutted coldly. “We’re not his soldiers. If he continues to be insolent, His Royal Highness ought to order his execution!”

“Alright!” Hu Dapao smiled sheepishly. “As long as you are all safe, I’m willing to take any punishment.”

Xiao Lie glanced over at him. “Come and see me later, General Hu. There is something we need to discuss.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness!” Hu Dapao saluted.

Xiao Lie took Su Jiu into the main tent, while Nangong Bi called over the guards, “Come carry all the merchandise. We bought many items for our New Year celebration!”

Chang Huan and the guards hurried over to unload the merchandise from the carriage.

Hu Dapao gaped at all the heavy baskets. “What are those?” he asked with a frown.

To celebrate the New Year, one would only need meat and wine. Who would need walnuts and fruits?

“It’s none of your business!” Nangong Bi snorted. “And you’re not getting your share.”

Hu Dapao fell silent, not daring to ask her further. He could only gape at her helplessly.

Chang Huan walked over to him and said in a hushed tone, “Ah Shu bought some wine. Come to our tent when you’re done with your chores.”

“Great!” Hu Dapao nodded with an excited grin.

Nangong Bi stayed in the back to make sure all the merchandise was unloaded, then hopped off the carriage. As she walked past Hu Dapao, she cast him a glance and put an object in his hand. “I bought this for you as a gift,” she said coolly. “But now I’ve changed my mind. Make sure to pay me back for it.”

Hu Dapao did a double-take. He grinned as he watched the girl skip away, pleased with the fact that the girl he loved had bought him a gift.

In fact, this was the first gift he had ever received.

What could it be?

Her jewelry? Her perfumed sachet?

He opened his palm, in which rested a wooden whistle. A child’s toy. Hu Dapao’s eyes bulged wide, at a loss.

After dinner, Hu Dapao entered the main tent and announced his presence. “Your Royal Highness.”

Xiao Lie gave a faint nod. “Sit.”

Next to him, Su Jiu rose onto her feet. “You two go ahead and have a chat in private. I’ll go outside for a stroll.”

Knowing the two men had military affairs to discuss, she thought it was best to leave them alone.

“That won’t be necessary,” Xiao Lie unexpectedly said, “Stay here. You already know everything I have to say.”

Su Jiu understood that Xiao Lie was about to mention He Da to Hu Dapao. She nodded briefly before sitting back down.

Xiao Lie poured Hu Dapao a cup of tea, then proceeded to tell him about Su Jiu’s confrontation with He Da and the Naye soldiers in the village.

Stunned, Hu Dapao turned to look at Su Jiu and asked, “Did you get hurt Chief?”

So, she had encountered Naye soldiers after all. Fortunately, it was only a small group of deserters.

“No.” Su Jiu smiled briefly, as she added some charcoal into the stove, her right hand holding the iron tongs, and her left arm limping on her side.

Xiao Lie froze briefly. He had noticed that Su Jiu hadn’t lifted her left arm throughout dinner.

“Chief, on that day when you were at the shore of River Gugu, the person you apprehended was indeed He Da. General Luo arrived later with his soldiers. Afterward, however, he didn’t inform me that He Da had escaped.”

Xiao Lie moved his gaze away from Su Jiu. “Indeed. There is something not quite right with Luo Sheng.”

“I’ll pay close attention.” Hu Dapao pondered with a frown. “And I’ll send my men out to search for any remnant Naye soldiers.”

“I’m thinking about the same thing. Don’t tell anyone about the encounter with the Naye soldiers in the village. And only send out your most trusted subordinates,” Xiao Lie gave his order.

“Yes, I understand.”

“It’s late, and your injuries have not yet fully recovered. Go get some rest.”

“I shall bid you farewell.”

Hu Dapao got up and bowed to Xiao Lie, before heading out of the tent.

As the curtains lifted, a chilly breeze gushed in. Su Jiu sat by the stove and leaned against a pillar, the flickering flames lighting up her exquisite face. “Could Luo Sheng be a spy for the enemy tribe?” she asked, nonchalantly scratching the ground with an iron poker.

If a frontier guardian general was spying for the enemy, that could lead to the execution of his entire family.

Xiao Lie walked over, his figure blocking the flickering candlelight. He sat down across from Su Jiu, glimpsed once again at her left arm, and looked over at the stove.

“That is unlikely,” he said, “Based on all the evidence, he is in contact with the foreign tribe, but he is not one of them.”

When Luo Sheng was stationed at Youzhou, the Naye army hadn’t dared to attack the city. Moreover, Luo Sheng had also led his soldiers to fend off the Naye army’s assault at Yanyun Pass. All these clues proved that he couldn’t be a spy. He hadn’t informed Hu Dapao about He Da’s escape, probably fearing that He Da, upon having been captured, would have confessed to some information that could prove to be detrimental to Luo Sheng’s wellbeing.

For sure, there must have been some nefarious connection between Luo Sheng and He Da.

“If he’s not a spy for the foreign tribe, who is he working for then?” Su Jiu arched an eyebrow.

In the warm fire, Xiao Lie’s face was impeccable, and his demeanor was calm. He added another piece of charcoal into the stove and said nothing.

Su Jiu understood that Xiao Lie knew something about the matter. It was either something he couldn’t quite elaborate or was too hesitant to relay to her.

“I’ll go take a shower.” She clapped her hands and stood up.

Her clothes reeked of blood. The wretched smell was beginning to nauseate her.

“That’s alright.” Xiao Lie raised his head and smiled.

Su Jiu took some fresh clothes and went behind the silkscreen. Upon removing the robe, she studied the wound in her left shoulder with a frown. The inner tunic was badly stained with blood, and the fabric was stuck onto her skin. Any slight movement would cause a great deal of pain.

During the battle, she had been too engaged to feel the pain, which had only become noticeable during the carriage ride. At that time, she had thought it to be a minor flesh wound, and therefore paid it no attention.

She scooped some water to wash the wound, which had been slashed by a sharp blade. It was thin but extremely deep, with a myriad of minor cuts webbing along its edges. Once the tunic was removed, the wound opened up again, and blood began to gush out.

Su Jiu paid it no more heed. She washed her hair and body, then ripped a thin strip out of the tunic to wrap her arm.

Having changed into fresh clothes, she ordered someone to replace the water in the bathing bucket.

Xiao Lie raised his head and looked over, a faint light glistening in his eyes.

The person brought in a bucket of water. Xiao Lie walked over and crouched down to study the blanket. He could smell a faint trace of blood amid the girl’s fragrance, and spot a few blood stains on the blanket.

The man’s handsome face momentarily darkened.

He walked over to the bed, in which Su Jiu had lied down to sleep. Seeing Xiao Lie in her room, she sat up with a faint grin. “What’s the matter?”

Xiao Lie sat down on the edge of the bed and gazed into her eyes. “Let me look at your wound.”

Su Jiu froze.

“Where did you get hurt?” Xiao Lie pursed his lips.

“So you’ve found out!” Su Jiu’s voice betrayed a tinge of helplessness. “No worries, I’ve already bandaged it. It’s nothing but a minor injury.”

“Show me!” The man was insistent, his gaze piercing.

He had no intention of giving up, even if it meant keeping Su Jiu and everyone else up all night.

Su Jiu undid three buttons of her inner robe and slipped it off a bit, to show him the wound in the left shoulder.

The girl’s delicate clavicle was exposed. So was a stretch of fair skin near her chest and her inner apron embroidered with lotus pattern. Her long black hair draped down in the candlelight, enchanting like a slab of black jade.

Yet, Xiao Lie’s eyes betrayed no affection. Coldness lingered in his unblinking gaze.

Blood was still seeping out, staining the fabric wrapping the wound. Xiao Lie removed the fabric, then got up to fetch some gauze and ointment. He tenderly cleaned the wound, applied the ointment, and again bandaged it.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had been hurt?” Xiao Lie asked as he helped the girl put the robe back on and button it.

“It’s just a minor injury. Even without medication, it will heal in a few days,” Su Jiu said nonchalantly.

“Not true.” Xiao Lie lifted his head. The candlelight was half-concealed by the bed’s hanging drapes. The man’s gaze was piercing as if looking straight into Su Jiu’s heart. “You didn’t want to tell me. I know it has nothing to do with the severity of the injury.”

Su Jiu gazed back at him, aware of the fact that he could see through her. Her lips moved, as if wanting to say something, but no words came out.

“You don’t trust me, Ah Jiu?” Xiao Lie squinted his eyes.

“That’s not true!” Su Jiu shook her head.

The man asked as he leaned even closer, “When you encountered the Naye soldiers in the village, why didn’t you come to seek my help before engaging them?”

“I was told the villagers would be caught by the Naye soldiers if they tried to leave,” Su Jiu lowered her gaze, as well as her voice. “The whole village was closely guarded, and the villager I was speaking to had to sneak out through a hole in the wall. I feared the villagers would be seen on their way out and end up losing their lives.”

“That’s only an excuse,” Xiao Lie studied her. “The injury, and the Naye soldiers; you never intended to tell anyone. You’re used to taking care of things all by yourself. Everything is your responsibility and yours alone. Am I right?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Su Jiu lifted her gaze and asked.

Back when she had first joined the Dragon Conqueror Gang, she had already understood that she had to rely on herself to survive. Later, as she had become the Chief, she had also shouldered the responsibility of safeguarding her subordinates. She had tried once to rely on a man, but she was still all alone in the end.

Gazing at the stubborn young woman, Xiao Lie found it hard to conjure up any appropriate words.

He was not like her. He could never understand her past, and he could never make sense of the environment in which she had grown up. As a result, he felt unqualified to tell her what to do.

A dull pain surged in the man’s chest. He reached out and hugged the girl tightly. “It breaks my heart seeing you like this,” he said in a husky voice. “Why don’t you try to rely on me from now on? Let me take good care of you. Alright?”

Su Jiu smiled and replied, “You have already helped me abundantly.”

Xiao Lie fell speechless.

The girl was not shy to disrobe in front of him. Yet, she could never understand his declaration of affection.

Alright, let’s take things slow then.

The corners of his mouth curled up with a faint smile as Xiao Lie rose onto his feet. “Promise me that from now on, don’t keep me in the dark about two things: Let me know when you are injured, and let me know when you find yourself in danger.”

Su Jiu nodded. “Alright.”

To her, these were not matters of great importance. Why did he have to be so solemn?

Xiao Lie reached out and brushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Go to sleep,” he said, gazing at her tenderly.

“Alright.”

The night was dark. Hu Dapao knew he had agitated Nangong Bi. Worried about her feeling scared all alone at night, he planned to sneak into Nangong Shu’s tent in the wee hours.

He waited until late and snuck his way into the main tent, only to find it utterly empty.

Thinking Nangong Bi had gone to the outhouse, he waited by the entrance. However, the girl never returned. Pondering for a while, he decided to head back to his tent.

Upon parting the curtains at the door, he was again surprised to see the girl lying in his bed, wrapped under the blanket, with her back facing towards him.

Hu Dapao’s eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky. He approached the bed, removed his boots, and wiggled under the blanket.

“Where did you go?” the young girl asked, all sleepy-eyed.

Hu Dapao retrieved the wooden whistle from under the pillow. He kept his voice hushed as he answered, “I went to pee.”

“Mm…” Nangong Bi grunted and promptly fell back to sleep.

Hu Dapao carefully lied down on his side and gazed at the girl’s back. With a content smile, he closed his eyes.

The New Year was fast approaching. Although the barracks were outside the city, the festive atmosphere was growing stronger by the day.

The soldiers were busy slaughtering pigs and sheep. Joy filled the air, and even the breeze became soft and gentle.

After the New Year, spring would surely follow.

The long, harsh winter of the northern border would finally come to an end.

Su Jiu recruited Nangong Bi and Chang Huan to help her with the daily chores. Every day was busy yet fulfilling.

It would be New Year’s Eve the next day. Nangong Bi was looking forward to Nangong Shu’s return, in hopes that they could enjoy a festival banquet together.

In the afternoon, Xiao Lie had to go to Youzhou City for some official business. Evening came, but he still didn’t return. After dinner, Su Jiu was bored staying all by herself in the main tent, so she decided to head out to look for Chang Huan and Ah Shu.

In the middle of the barracks, a campfire was burning. Surrounding it were soldiers who were chatting and celebrating joyously.

Before long, Su Jiu bumped into Pan Gang. Thinking she was looking for Hu Dapao, Pan Gang pointed north. “Our general went that way!”

Why did Hu Dapao go there in the middle of the night?

Baffled, Su Jiu gazed into the distance. She gave Pan Gang a brief nod and headed toward the northern end of the barracks.

As she left the tents and reached a mountain slope, Su Jiu found Hu Dapao sitting all alone in stillness.

She sat down next to him and studied the burly man’s face with a grin. “What are you doing here all by yourself?”

Stars dotted the sky, and the grassland spread out endlessly before them into pitch blackness. A faint grin played on Hu Dapao’s rough yet handsome face as he asked, “Do you know what’s over there, Chief?” He gazed south unblinkingly.

Su Jiu glanced around. The barracks were located below the mountain slope. The campfire was flickering, mirroring the stars in the sky. Youzhou City rested in the far distance.

“I don’t know!” Su Jiu shook her head.

“I can imagine seeing Shengjing City from here. When I miss you and her, I always sit here and wonder what you’re doing,” Hu Dapao contemplated in a hushed tone.

Su Jiu picked a stick of hay and chewed on it. “No need to imagine anymore. We’re alright here!”

“That’s a wonderful thing.” Hu Dapao spread a content smile.

Su Jiu lied down on her back and folded both hands behind her head. “You still like Nangong Bi, don’t you?” she asked, gazing up into the starry sky.

Hu Dapao nodded and admitted unabashedly. “I do.”

“Do you still want to marry her?” Su Jiu asked further.

Hu Dapao remained quiet for a moment, before saying, “No, she ought to marry someone better. Some dandy from a rich family. Someone who can provide a carefree life for her. I’m only an uneducated fellow. I don’t deserve her, nor do I want her to feel unhappy.”

Su Jiu pursed her lips. “What about Huang Ying then?”

“What does she have to do with anything?” Hu Dapao abruptly turned to look at her.

Su Jiu shot him a look. “That girl likes you!”

If that wasn’t true, why would a young woman from a rich family endow so much passion to a stranger?

Hu Dapao chuckled. “That’s impossible! No way would the governor’s daughter take a fancy to me. There is something you don’t know. A while back, Miss Huang and the governor’s wife went to worship in a temple, but they were robbed by a gang of mountain bandits. I happened to be there, so I escorted them home, and Miss Huang was grateful. That’s the only reason she always takes good care of me.”

“Is that so?” Su Jiu frowned.

“Absolutely,” Hu Dapao replied with a firm nod.

Not wanting to talk about Huang Ying, he promptly changed the subject. “Ah Shu told me you’re no longer Young Mistress Ji. So the Young Miss of the Su Family turned out to be still alive?”

“Mm!” Su Jiu nodded, still chewing on the hay straw.

“…But she died, and I buried her with my own hands!” Hu Dapao murmured, utterly baffled.

He then continued, “Young Master Ji must miss you, Chief. He likes you very much. Everyone can tell.”

Su Jiu gazed ahead, her eyes glimmering in the starlight. “I have nothing to do with him anymore,” she whispered, “Not in any shape or form.”

Spitting out the hay stick, she rose onto her feet. “Let’s head back. They’ll probably be worried if they find us missing.”

“Let them worry!” Hu Dapao grinned from ear to ear. “See it as Ah Shu’s punishment for scolding me so rudely before!”

The two chuckled aloud and headed back to the barracks.

In Youzhou City, Xiao Lie had arrived in the afternoon. By the time he finished the meeting with Governor Huang, it was already dark, and the governor invited him to stay for dinner.

After dinner, it was already close to ten at night.

“You have to come back to the city tomorrow, Your Highness!” Governor Huang said, “Might as well stay the night. I already have the servants prepare a room for you to rest.”

“That’s not necessary. I still have matters to take care of back in the barracks,” Xiao Lie replied cordially and ordered his men to prepare the horses.

“It’s already late. General Hu must know by now you may stay in the city. Please spend the night here.” It was cold and windy outside. Moreover, the war was raging. Governor Huang did not feel comfortable to let His Royal Highness travel out of the city at night.

“No!” Xiao Lie was determined. He turned and headed for the door, with his soldiers hurriedly following.

Governor Huang saw him off to the door. He watched Xiao Lie boarded his horse and rode out, and only went back inside when the hoofbeats could no longer be heard.

The city gate was already shut. One of Xiao Lie’s soldiers pulled out a pass. Upon seeing the pass, the guards at the gate hastily opened the door to let them through.

The cavalry rode against the wind. When the men reached the barracks, it was already past midnight.

Xiao Lie hopped off his horse and headed for the tent, his footsteps swift and rushed.

The night was dark and utterly silent. A candle burned dimly in the tent. Xiao Lie removed his fur coat and stood still for a while until the frigid winter air shrouding his torso gradually faded away. He then ambled toward the young girl’s bed.

Su Jiu was lying on her side, facing outward, fast asleep.

Xiao Lie wanted to check her wound, but he didn’t want to wake her up. Not feeling sleepy at all, he remained still and studied her quietly.

The northern wind was howling outside. Stacks of hay tumbled and drummed the tent. However, it was warm and tranquil inside.

The sight of the girl always managed to placate him. Maybe that was the reason he could never get enough of her.

Having ridden for a whole night, he had wanted nothing more than just seeing her face.

When he hadn’t been able to see her before, he had always missed her dearly. Now, he felt restless and anxious if he couldn’t see her every day.

It was a vortex of obsession, into which he had already been hopelessly swallowed.

Su Jiu was breathing faintly. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows onto her cheeks, resembling the shape of small fans depicted in traditional ink paintings. For a moment, the remote northern border felt like a warm southern lakeshore, with powdery drizzles softly caressing one’s passionate heart.

Xiao Lie leaned forward and lied down next to the girl. He felt content, more content than he had ever felt in his life.

Su Jiu’s eyelashes fluttered, as she felt someone next to her. Her body tensed and she was about to leap up when a strong hand pressed down on her arm.

She froze for a moment. “Xiao Lie?” Her sleepy voice was husky.

Xiao Lie raised his head, his eyes glimmering. “Did I wake you?”

“When did you get back?” Su Jiu asked, about to sit up.

Xiao Lie gently pressed her back down again. “Don’t move. Go back to sleep. It’s still nighttime.”

“How about you? Why aren’t you sleeping?” Su Jiu gazed at him wide-eyed.

“I’ve only just returned, and I want to check on your wound. Did you apply the ointment?”

“No. The wound has already scabbed up. It’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“The medicine can prevent scars from forming. You have to apply it twice a day,” Xiao Lie said and proceeded to remove her robe. As he realized that his hands were cold from the long journey, he stopped short and lowered his hands. Instead, he pulled the blanket higher to cover her. “You can apply it tomorrow morning. Go to sleep now.”

“Alright. You ought to go to sleep too.”

“Okay.”

Xiao Lie’s eyes twinkled in the faint candlelight. With a tender smile, he got up and left.

The next day was New Year’s Eve. Since it was wartime, neither firecrackers nor fireworks were allowed. Despite that, however, cheerfulness still permeated the air, arousing everyone’s spirit.

Nangong Bi was the first one to get out of bed. She proceeded to wake everyone up in their respective tents.

During breakfast, Xiao Lie announced that General Nangong would return to have dinner with everyone, though he had to hurry back to Yanyun Pass in the middle of the night.

Ecstatic, Nangong Bi held Su Jiu’s arm and swung it excitedly. “My brother is coming, Su Jiu! That’s wonderful news!”

Xiao Lie knitted a frown. Fearing the girl would tear open Su Jiu’s wound, he hurriedly pulled her away. “Stay put and finish your meal!”

“How overbearing!” Nangong Bi grumbled, stifling a laugh. “Nothing has happened between you two, yet you already think Su Jiu belongs to you.”

Xiao Lie reflexively looked over at Su Jiu, who was busy eating a bun and didn’t seem to hear Nangong Bi at all. The man felt a bit saddened, though he did not know why. He lowered his head and went back to his meal, taking each bite slowly and meditatively.

After breakfast, Xiao Lie was about to head back to the city. Nangong Bi pleaded to go with him.

The city had to be extremely festive and fun this time of the year!

Fearing she would get overly excited and forget to come back, Hu Dapao declined her request, using the wartime decree as an excuse.

Needless to say, Nangong Bi was by no means obedient.

Hu Dapao declared patiently, “The general will most likely return later today!”

“Now you’re threatening me!” Nangong Bi let out a grunt, stomped her feet, and angrily headed back to her tent.

Hu Dapao’s sense of authority instantly collapsed. He bowed to Xiao Lie and hurried after the girl.

Su Jiu was amused by the scene. She knew that Nangong Bi already had Hu Dapao on a leash by now.

“How about you? Would you like to go to the city with me?” Xiao Lie asked all of a sudden.

Su Jiu pondered for a moment and said, “It’s not a good idea. If I went to the city with you, Nangong Bi would throw even a bigger tantrum. It’s New Year’s Eve and we are far from home. I don’t want to make her unhappy.”

“In that case, I shall go early and return early.” Xiao Lie nodded briefly. “Wait for me.”

“Sure!” Su Jiu beamed an alluring smile.

Xiao Lie got up to leave, while Su Jiu turned and headed for her tent. She then stopped abruptly and gazed back at the man’s departing figure. What a pair they were, she thought, the epitome of an odd couple.

With a faint sigh, Su Jiu shrugged and walked away.

In the morning, several carts filled with wine and meat were sent from Youzhou City to the barracks. Some were gifts from Wei Tan, while the others were from Governor Huang. They were meant for the soldiers’ New Year celebration.

Naturally, the soldiers were ecstatic. Stoves were lit up to stew the meat, and wine was poured into a thousand cups. The barracks were soon shrouded in the sweet aroma of festive cooking.

After his morning errands in the city, Xiao Lie skipped lunch and proceeded to head back.

As he rode down the main street, he chanced upon a hawker selling sugar-coated gourds. The skewered gourds were bright red, perfect for the occasion.

Xiao Lie stopped his horse and turned to one of his soldiers. “Go buy some!”

The soldier looked confounded. Did he hear it right? Did His Royal Highness want to eat sugar-coated gourds, like a little kid?

A prince riding down the street, holding a skewer of sugary gourds… That would certainly be a sight far from his proper royal upbringing!

“Didn’t you hear me?” Xiao Lie shot the soldier a cold glance.

“Yes! Yes, Your Highness!” Almost biting his tongue, the soldier hurriedly hopped off the horse and went to purchase the gourds.

The soldier turned around as he reached the hawker. “How many do you want, Your Highness?”

“All of them!” Xiao Lie said blankly.

“Yes, Your Highness.” The soldier nodded and paid the hawker several taels of silver. He then took the whole stump in which the gourds were skewered and carried it on his shoulder.

A soldier in military uniform carrying a hefty stump full of sugar-coated gourds… It was by far a sight way too conspicuous and jarring. Utterly embarrassed, the soldier chose to follow Xiao Lie on foot, trying to hide from the scrutiny of the other passers-by.

The royal prince rode on his high horse, while the soldier struggled to catch up carrying the gourds, panting up a storm.

A middle-aged woman carrying a basket of eggs walked past them. “Our poor soldiers. It seems that they can only afford to eat sugar-coated gourds for the New Year!” She sighed empathetically and wiped away her tears.

The woman then handed the basket of eggs to the soldier. “Take all the eggs. It’s the New Year, don’t just eat sugary gourds! Have some eggs, too. It’s the only way to stay strong and safeguard our kingdom!”

The soldier fell speechless.

The weeping middle-aged woman walked away, leaving the soldier now carrying both the gourds and the eggs.

By the time they reached the city gate, the soldier was carrying more than just the gourds and the eggs: he had a slab of bacon hanging around his neck, a string of garlic wrapping around his waist, and several sweet potatoes stuffed in his belt.

The guards at the gate gawked at him in awe. The soldier pretended he didn’t see them, and he hurried out of the city in utter embarrassment.

As they reached a distance from the city, the soldier finally let out a long sigh. Finally, he was no longer stared at by everyone like a circus monkey.

Xiao Lie picked up his speed and rode faster. The soldier struggled onto his horse, carrying all the ‘rations’. All kinds of thoughts swam in his head as they continued the journey. He couldn’t help but wonder whether he had offended His Royal Highness in some way, to deserve such a ridiculous punishment.