Chapter 30: Deception

Like a bull chewing peonies—utterly graceless.

The temperature grew colder with each passing day. In the northern winters, one’s breath practically froze mid-air.

Xuan Rui had left early in the morning, likely heading to a distant village today, and hadn’t returned yet.

Li Youqing continued with yesterday’s tasks, having gained some experience, she worked more smoothly and spent the day productively.

After spending half the morning wiping tears from a child who refused to take medicine, she wanted a moment of peace. She took the opportunity to wash her handkerchief in the bathhouse.

Wrapped in the cloak Xuan Rui had left for her, she shivered in the bathhouse while wringing water from the handkerchief, feeling as if frost had formed on her fingernails.

The bathhouse door was slightly ajar, and she faintly heard two people talking as they approached.

She listened carefully—it sounded like Bai Cha and Xiao Ziqi.

A phrase or two drifted to her ears. Li Youqing paused, then walked to the doorway and stood silently.

Xiao Ziqi’s tone carried frustration and urgency: “I’ve given you a day to think it over. The General will be back soon. You’d better go explain now—why you’ve been disguising yourself as a man.”

Last night, he had found it highly suspicious. Who would choose to bathe in a small grove in the dead of winter instead of using the hot water?

Considering Bai Cha was from the Bai family, and with Bai Yao’er’s precedent, Xiao Ziqi grew deeply suspicious and followed, intending to see what the other was really up to.

By the stream, hidden behind a protruding rock, he watched as Bai Cha removed the upper garments, revealing pale, delicate skin, confirming the intention to bathe.

Xiao Ziqi assumed Bai Cha avoided the bathhouse to escape ridicule for a “pale chicken” physique, preferring an icy open-air wash.

But what he saw next left him utterly stunned.

Bai Cha, this guy—was actually—

He didn’t expose the truth on the spot but returned silently to the Ancestral Temple, his mind in turmoil. He ended up sitting under the corridor all night.

By morning, it dawned on him that this couldn’t be kept from the General. If Bai Cha exploited this loophole, not only would he be unforgivably culpable, but he’d also betray the Zhenbei Army comrades who risked their lives.

Thus, he went to Bai Cha first thing, stating he knew the truth and urging an immediate confession to the General.

Bai Cha, equally agitated, retorted, “Xiao Ziqi, do you believe women are unfit to lead a household or collaborate with your General? No matter how much I’ve sacrificed for you all, just because I’m a woman, I deserve suspicion and your threats?”

“That’s exactly why I’m telling you to explain it to the General!” Xiao Ziqi replied helplessly, his face alternating between green and purple.

That wasn’t his point—why couldn’t she understand?

“If I let this slide today and the General finds out later, do you have any idea what the consequences would be?”

Though a rough northerner through and through, Xiao Ziqi was perceptive. Years in the army had given him a deep understanding of General Xuan’s temperament.

And for that very reason, he couldn’t stand by and watch Bai Cha head toward disaster.

He collected himself and said, “Our leader has never tolerated deceit. Last year, a woman impersonated a war widow to seek benefits from the General’s Mansion. When her identity was exposed, the General ordered her hanged upside down in an ice cave. By the time she was pulled out, she had frozen solid into an ice pop.”

Bai Cha was deeply perplexed. “That woman might have been in dire straits, merely using the widow’s identity to freeload. Surely that didn’t warrant death.”

“Who knows if she was just freeloading or a spy sent by the enemy? The General despises lies above all—he’d rather mistakenly punish one than risk overlooking a threat.”

Xiao Ziqi looked at her, his brow furrowing sternly. “If you value your life, go confess to the General tonight. Otherwise, I’ll expose you myself by morning.”

Through the slightly ajar door, Li Youqing caught sight of Bai Cha’s delicate feet and understood everything.

She waited until the moon-white robe fluttered in the wind and vanished from view, lingering a moment longer before emerging from the bathhouse.

No wonder she’d always found something odd about Bai Cha—she’d assumed he was a eunuch, but it turned out to be a girl.

Yet, compared to Bai Cha’s identity, Li Youqing was more troubled by what Xiao Ziqi had just revealed.

Would she be strung up and plunged into an ice cave for deceiving him?

The mere thought sent chills racing down her spine.

That woman had only come to freeload, yet her fate was so tragic.

But she herself had not only spent his money but also caused him endless troubles along the way.

And worse—

That day, Bai Yao’er had seen through her identity first and would surely report to Zhenbei Wang. By contrast, it made Xuan Rui appear negligent and easily deceived.

Having unwittingly humiliated him so greatly, being dunked in an ice cave might be a lenient punishment.

Burdened by these thoughts, Li Youqing walked extremely slowly.

Passing by the Ancestral Temple, she suddenly heard the pitiful cries of a lamb from the kitchen and halted.

A lamb, small as an infant, was slaughtered with a single swift cut—

Instantly, its pure white fleece was stained with blood, its head drooping motionless. Its eyes, wide and unblinking, seemed to stare at her in eternal grievance.

The cook looked up, noticed her, and waved a boning knife, flashing a grin of white teeth.

“Ah—” Li Youqing could no longer suppress a scream and fled.

She had to leave, immediately!

Sensing pursuit, she tore off the cloak carrying his scent and stumbled forward in a daze.

Suddenly, a tall figure loomed ahead. Unable to dodge in time, she collided headlong into him.

Had his hands not steadied her shoulders, her nose would have surely suffered.

She looked up into hawk-like eyes coldly scrutinizing her. Li Youqing stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

“Rushing about so recklessly—are you trying to fall?” Xuan Rui had just inspected several villages and dealt with negligent soldiers, returning with an aura of grim authority.

Seeing it was her, his expression softened slightly.

But to Li Youqing, still shaken, his tone felt far too harsh.

Thinking of the woman frozen into an ice stick and the cruelly slaughtered lamb, her eyes gradually reddened. When she saw the face before her, comparable to a demon’s, she couldn’t hold back a loud “wah” and burst into tears.

Hearing her sobs, Xuan Rui felt a throbbing pain in his temples. Just as he was about to ask what happened, he saw a cook soldier chasing after them with his cloak, and his expression instantly darkened.

The young soldier had been slaughtering a lamb when he suddenly heard a woman’s scream. Fearing something had gone wrong, he rushed over. Now, seeing their General standing there with a look that could grind bones to dust, and the young lady weeping like a rain-drenched pear blossom, he instinctively sensed trouble.

Fortunately, he was quick-witted and afraid of getting implicated. Standing straight, he blurted out in one breath: “Reporting to the General, this young lady was probably frightened by the scene of this subordinate slaughtering the lamb. It was also this subordinate’s fault for forgetting to close the doors and windows while—”

Frightened by the slaughter?

Xuan Rui frowned and glanced at Li Youqing, whose eyes were red from crying, with a questioning look.

Seeing her nod with a wronged expression, his own expression involuntarily turned complex.

He walked over to take the cloak, gave the soldier a meaningful look, and let him leave first.

His gaze fell upon the sniffling little figure before him. Though his face remained stern, his heart had already softened completely.

Li Youqing wore a plain face, her dark hair simply tied up with a jade hairpin. For convenience in tasks, she didn’t even wear a bracelet on her wrist. Yet her face was both noble and radiant, her skin as white as snow, standing out strikingly in the hazy winter day.

When his eyes landed on her slightly swollen, red lips, Xuan Rui’s lower abdomen tightened. He walked over, draped the cloak over her, and said in a low voice, “What are you afraid of? We still have to eat when it’s time.”

Li Youqing, smelling his intense masculine scent, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. She shook her head desperately, saying, “Don’t bother, I won’t eat it anyway.”

After venting her emotions through tears, she felt less panicked. Fortunately, he still didn’t know the truth, and she still had a chance to escape from him.

Xuan Rui wiped her tears, both annoyed and amused. “How will you have any strength if you don’t eat? Look at you, all soft and weak—I’m afraid I might break you if I touch you.”

Li Youqing dodged to the side, not letting him get close. She was young to begin with, with a tender face, and this sulking demeanor only made her appear even more adorable in others’ eyes.

Her whole face was red and crumpled from crying; even if he wanted to tease her, he had to restrain himself.

Xuan Rui chuckled. “Why are you so timid?”

Afraid that further resistance might arouse his suspicion, Li Youqing muttered gloomily, “Anyway, I don’t want dinner today.”

“Let’s not talk about that for now.” Xuan Rui grabbed her hand and said gently, “Come, I’ll take you to see a place.”

They wouldn’t be staying in Ming City for just a day or two. Not only did they need to prevent and control the plague, but they also had to stay vigilant against enemy attacks and prepare for a prolonged battle.

Although having this burden by his side added many troubles, both emotionally and logically, he ought to take responsibility for her. A true man doesn’t take advantage and then abandon someone.

Xuan Rui had already accepted caring for her as his duty, inexplicably doing many things for her.

Li Youqing, led by him as they walked forward, felt no different than heading to an execution ground.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a sneaky figure not far away. Recognizing the moon-white robe, she realized it was Bai Cha—

Her heart stirred involuntarily.

She had originally intended to use his convoy to escape, and now that they were both in the same predicament, why not coax him into taking her along?

“General, where are we going?” Her voice still carried a tearful tremor, sounding exceptionally soft and sweet, enough to make one’s heart itch.

Xuan Rui was at an age of youthful vigor. Suppressing the flicker of emotion in his heart, he replied in a deep voice, “You’ll know when we arrive.”

They arrived at a household near the Ancestral Temple—a small, square courtyard with vegetables growing in the front and two adjacent blue-brick houses at the back, from which wisps of cooking smoke curled upward.

Xuan Rui pushed open the door to one of the rooms and led her inside. The interior was neatly arranged, with a narrow bed placed by the window. The bedding and curtains were clearly newly replaced.

In the center of the room stood a wooden table with a teapot, cups, and a familiar water pouch.

Xuan Rui seemed slightly uncomfortable, his expression cold as he said, “The owner, Zhang Shen, is from the Central Plains. Her daughter married into the neighboring village last year, so this room has been vacant. I found it for you yesterday but was too busy to clean it up properly. Starting today, you’ll stay here.”

Li Youqing felt a mix of emotions and looked up timidly to ask him, “Then where will you sleep, General?”

It would be best if she could be separated from him; otherwise, she might wake up frightened in the middle of the night.

Seeing how she seemed unable to bear being apart from him for even a moment, Xuan Rui pursed his lips tightly before relaxing them again.

This little thing was far too fragile.

Not only did she need coaxing to sleep at night, but even the sight of slaughtering pigs and sheep during the day could reduce her to tears.

Just looking at the tangled knots she tied at her chest when dressing herself, it was clear that without him, she might struggle to take care of herself.

But he had responsibilities to fulfill and couldn’t stay by her side at all times.

He also needed to eat and live alongside his soldiers; otherwise, morale would crumble, and how could they defend against enemies in the future?

In the end, he hardened his heart and said, “I won’t be staying here, but you needn’t worry. Zhang Shen will take care of your daily needs. If anything happens, you can come find me.”

Li Youqing felt slightly relieved and offered him a placating smile. “Thank you, General.”

Seeing her obedience, Xuan Rui couldn’t resist patting her head, his tone gentle as he said, “No need to stand on ceremony with me.”

Li Youqing felt his hand weighed a thousand pounds and was about to find an excuse to urge him to leave when the man suddenly leaned down to kiss her lips.

“Mmph—” Her body was pressed against the door, her waist held firmly by his strong arm, leaving her unable to move an inch.

This time, her heart was filled with resistance—

How many people had this hand killed, and how many of them were innocent?

She had once wondered if, in a moment of crisis, revealing her identity as the Third Princess might save her life.

But earlier, she had heard Xiao Ziqi say that he detested lies above all else and would never tolerate them once discovered.

Xuan Rui felt her entire body trembling and stopped to carefully study her expression. Lowering his voice, he asked, “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

He had been running around all day and had spent a long time dealing with that old fox Luo Cheng, so his mood was far from good.

Yet all the hostility he carried had dissipated the moment he saw her.

But why was she so afraid—

Was it because he couldn’t stay with her at night?

In the darkness, it hadn’t been so obvious, but now, able to see every subtle expression on her face, he suddenly felt uneasy.

Her slightly trembling eyelashes were like a feather fan, tickling at his heart.

He suddenly felt like an uncouth brute, only knowing how to chew peonies like an ox, completely clueless about how to please a woman.

Meeting his concerned gaze, Li Youqing shook her head and said, “No, it’s just that I’m in a bad mood now.”

“Still thinking about that lamb?” Xuan Rui frowned, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it.

He had no choice but to suppress his own thoughts and patiently console her, “Excessive kindness is not a good thing. Today, you can’t bear to see a lamb slaughtered and even lose your appetite. What if you encounter evil people in the future? Will you still extend sympathy to those despicable scoundrels who dare to deceive you to your face?”

Li Youqing’s face paled, and her breath grew even fainter as she said, “The General is right. I will remember that.”

Xuan Rui still had matters to attend to, so after instructing her to rest well, he took his leave first.