Chapter 55: Return

How could you be so shameless?

A light snow fell at night, the moonlight and accumulated snow on the ground reflecting each other, casting a faint white glow across the world.

Xiao Ziqi was patrolling the area with two soldiers when he suddenly detected faint rustling in the grass ahead. He nocked an arrow and casually shot toward the sound.

With a sharp “swish” through the air, a trembling figure huddled in the reeds shuddered, then collapsed motionless.

Xiao Ziqi led his men over to investigate who was lurking near the military camp. Parting the grass, he saw a familiar face.

He couldn’t help but frown and rebuke: “I told you not to come back. Why are you here again?”

Lying on the ground, barely breathing, was Bai Cha, who had left Ming City that day.

She had now changed back into women’s clothing, her blue dress stained with blood, seaweed-like hair cascading over her body, creating a tragically beautiful image.

Xiao Ziqi shook his head, wishing he could turn around and leave immediately.

“Brother Xiao, please help me!” Ignoring the arrow in her shoulder, Bai Cha crawled over and clung to Xiao Ziqi’s leg, pleading mournfully: “I just want to see General Xuan one more time. Please help me, Brother Xiao.”

Xiao Ziqi stared at her androgynous face, suspicious: “You creature, what exactly are you plotting against the General?”

Enduring the pain, Bai Cha forced a faint smile and said to Xiao Ziqi: “I have no ill intentions toward the General. I’m begging to see him because I have important information to share.”

Xiao Ziqi studied her for a moment, half-believing her words. Ultimately, his heart softened, and he turned to order his subordinates: “You two return first. Check if the lights are out in the General’s tent, and keep this quiet.”

Then he crouched down: “Climb on. I’ll take you back to treat your wound first.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Xiao. I’m tough-skinned and thick-fleshed—this minor injury is nothing.” Bai Cha refused his offer to carry her, staggering forward on her own.

Xiao Ziqi followed and said: “You’re a woman—why can’t you stay safely at home instead of running off to these dangerous places?”

Fortunately, he had deliberately shot wide earlier, otherwise she wouldn’t still be alive.

They were still some distance from the main camp, the weather was freezing, and she had an arrow wound—

Xiao Ziqi wasn’t so cruel as to treat a woman this way. He quickly caught up, intending to carry her over his shoulder.

But just then, a sudden change occurred.

Twelve black-clad figures descended from above, surrounding them completely.

Suspecting they were Zhenbei Wang’s followers, Xiao Ziqi immediately drew his sword and shielded Bai Cha, declaring: “Whatever you want, come at me. Let the innocent person leave.”

He then signaled with his eyes for Bai Cha to hide to the side.

Unexpectedly, Bai Cha walked over to the black-clad figures, her gaze apologetic as she told Xiao Ziqi: “Brother Xiao, I’ve wronged you this time, but I truly have no other choice.”

To fulfill her mother’s dying wish, she had to meet Zhenbei Wang and reveal her true identity to him.

General Xuan had already become displeased with her because of that woman and wouldn’t help her anymore. So now, she had no choice but to take extreme measures and exploit this man’s goodwill toward her.

Xiao Ziqi, known throughout his military career for being meticulous and thorough, had this time capsized in a minor ditch—tripped up by this ambiguous young woman. His heart was filled with nothing but regret.

Trussed up like a bundle and stuffed into a sack, then carried away slung over a horse, he truly wished he could just die then and there. It would be better than facing the General’s cold stare later, not to mention being mocked by that thick-headed, single-minded brute Yuchi Meng.

“Brother Xiao, don’t worry. As soon as General Xuan agrees to my demands, I’ll release you immediately.” Bai Cha, riding on horseback, steeled herself and whipped the horse into a gallop, speeding away.

So after all this, they were using him as leverage to negotiate terms with the General.

Xiao Ziqi really wasn’t sure if he carried that much weight. If his General hesitated even for a moment because of him, he should be grateful.

~

It had snowed all night, but the next day dawned clear and bright.

The morning sunlight streamed into the tent. When Li Youqing turned over and reached out, she didn’t feel the familiar warm body beside her. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she looked somewhat forlorn.

Just as she sat up, she heard the man’s gentle voice: “Your clothes are on the perfume burner. Dress properly so you don’t catch cold.”

“Oh,” she responded, a smile appearing in her eyes.

The military camp was full of men. Although none meant any harm, she always felt somewhat nervous.

Today, he had surprisingly not gone out, and she couldn’t help but relax.

Through a screen, she could see the man’s figure sitting upright at the desk, writing something with a brush.

Her heart lifted, and without bothering to dress properly, she slipped on her shoes and rushed over.

Xuan Rui set down his brush, opened his arms to catch her, and settled her on his lap.

“I told you to get dressed first.” His brow furrowed as his arms encircled her waist, pulling her completely into his embrace. “Always so reckless. When will you ever change?”

“How dare you! Who gave you permission to criticize this princess?” Li Youqing grumbled, leaning over the desk without any reservation to look at the letter he had just been writing.

Xuan Rui chuckled, pulling the letter away from her and holding it up high. “No—peeking—” he said flatly.

“Xuan Rui!” She had already glimpsed that it was a memorial intended for Father Emperor.

She grew anxious, but he had longer arms, so she had to kneel on his legs and reach upward.

“Not until you’re properly dressed. Don’t even think about it.” Xuan Rui turned a stern face toward her, his attitude rigid.

Li Youqing made a few more futile attempts before finally giving up in frustration.

Xuan Rui leaned back, looking at the woman sprawled on his chest like a kitten, and sneered, “If you don’t want to wear clothes, fine. But that’s a different matter altogether.”

Furious but afraid he might actually follow through, Li Youqing obediently put on her outer garments, one by one.

Returning to stand before him, she said with a pout, “Now can I see the letter?”

Xuan Rui spread the letter on the desk and reached for her hand, but she brushed him off.

He tapped his knuckles lightly on the desk, eyeing her flushed face. “The princess has quite the temper,” he said slowly.

Ignoring him, Li Youqing read the letter carefully from start to finish.

Seeing that it detailed how Zhenbei Wang had colluded with foreign tribes without mentioning her at all, she couldn’t help but feel suspicious. “General, when do you plan to send me back to the palace?”

Xuan Rui’s expression darkened. He picked her up, resting his chin on her head as he muttered, “Are you in such a hurry to return to the palace? Still thinking about your Imperial Brother?”

“I miss Father Emperor,” Li Youqing lifted her head, her eyes already brimming with unshed tears, looking utterly heart-wrenching.

Normally, when she looked at him with such eyes, Xuan Rui would even try to pluck the stars from the sky for her.

But returning to the palace… truly crossed his boundaries.

“What’s wrong? You promised to personally escort me back to the palace.” Li Youqing’s eyes showed a hint of hurt as she urged him, “You’re a mighty general—how can you go back on your word?”

Xuan Rui wiped away her tears with his large hand, but his words were unyielding: “I told you long ago, this general doesn’t engage in losing deals.”

He continued, “Before agreeing to send you back, there was no mention of capturing the rebel leader. Have you forgotten, Princess? This general wants the Military Tally.”

“Military Tally?” Li Youqing read the letter once more before cautiously asking, “Do you intend to send troops to attack the Bai Wang Tribe?”

A wild glint flashed in Xuan Rui’s eyes as he smiled lazily, “Lu Zhan has committed treason. This general is willing to lead the army further north to pacify the barbarians. Your royal family should be grateful for this.”

“Grateful that with Lu Zhan gone… there is still someone guarding the northwestern frontier for you.” His tone turned cold as he recalled the innocent soldiers who had died in the past, enunciating each word clearly.

“Xuan Rui, you’re a scoundrel! You’re using me to threaten Father Emperor into granting you military authority, aren’t you?” Li Youqing struggled violently, but her waist was firmly held by him, leaving her no chance to escape.

After a long pause, a sigh came from above her, and the man’s deep voice pressed down on her: “Qingqing, are you certain… that His Majesty even knows you’re still alive?”

“I won’t use you to threaten His Majesty, nor will I exploit you for anything.” Seeing her look somewhat helpless, Xuan Rui softened his tone to comfort her, “Once I defeat the Bai Wang Tribe and accumulate enough military merits, I will formally ask His Majesty for your hand in marriage.”

Li Youqing, unwilling to delay, pleaded urgently, “Why wait until then? Why not return to the palace now? We can wait until Father Emperor arranges our marriage before you go to war. I can wait for you—”

“Right now, I’m merely a minor commander. His Majesty may not agree.” Xuan Rui could not voice his suspicions about the Crown Prince and could only continue coaxing her, “It won’t take too long. I swear, in at most a year, I will take you back to the capital.”

Born into humble origins, he never held unrealistic expectations for those in high positions.

What he desired, he could only obtain through his own efforts, securing it firmly with his own hands.

To marry the woman he loved, he needed to accumulate enough strength—enough to stand as an equal to the nobles in the palace.

Only then could he be confident in providing her with a stable life, without forcing her to wander and suffer alongside him.

“A year?” Li Youqing was stunned. She bit her lip, pondering for a moment, then balled her hand into a fist and struck his chest hard, fuming, “You want me to live in this wretched, barren land, in this shabby tent, for a year? Xuan Rui, how can you be so shameless!”

Steeling his heart, Xuan Rui replied calmly, “Once I set out on the campaign, I will settle you in a safe place—one that will suit your tastes.”

“I don’t want to—” Li Youqing burst into tears, sobbing as she lamented, “I don’t like it here at all. I want to return to the palace and find Father Emperor. You can’t treat me like this.”

Xuan Rui’s temples throbbed with pain, and he wished he could cover her eyes to stop her from crying.

But the little one wept and protested without end, leaving him utterly exhausted.

After a while, Aunt An and Liu Shi came in to set out breakfast. Seeing Li Youqing trapped in the General’s embrace and weeping incessantly, they both felt somewhat distressed.

However, noticing the General’s expression was also quite grim, they dared not say anything unnecessary.

Before leaving, Liu Shi couldn’t resist saying, “General, someone from Lieutenant Xiao’s side seems to have business with you. They’ve been lingering outside the tent for quite some time.”

Xuan Rui did not respond. Only after Liu Shi and Aunt An had left did he pat Li Youqing’s back and gently soothe her, “Don’t cry anymore.”

Li Youqing had cried until her nose was red, desperately trying to make him promise to escort her back before the New Year.

Unexpectedly, his heart was as hard as stone—no matter how she pleaded, he refused to relent.

“If Father Emperor gives you the Military Tally, could you send someone to escort me back first?” Li Youqing’s eyes were rimmed with tiny red veins as she stared at him with tear-filled eyes, pleading earnestly.

Frustrated and resentful, she thought: He’s so obedient and accommodating in bed, but once off the bed, he turns cold and heartless.

This man is simply awful!

Xuan Rui remained silent for a while, not giving a clear answer, and only said, “What if His Majesty doesn’t bestow the Military Tally upon me but instead decides to punish both me and Zhenbei Wang? Which side would you stand on, Qingqing?”

“Father Emperor would never do such a thing,” Li Youqing retorted. But when she looked up and met his intense gaze, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

The emperor’s heart is as deep as the sea. What if Father Emperor truly feared his reputation in the northwest and intended to use this opportunity to eliminate both him and Zhenbei Wang? What then?

She steadied herself and then declared loudly, “If Father Emperor truly acts so unreasonably, then I will stay with you in the northwest. But you must also promise never to do anything harmful to Father Emperor.”

Xuan Rui took her hand, brought it to his lips, and gently kissed it, feeling an overwhelming tenderness in his chest.

For over twenty years, he had crawled through the darkest filth, witnessing every shade of human depravity.

Sometimes, humans were worse than beasts.

The wolf packs he had tamed remained loyal to the Zhenbei Army and served him on the battlefield, yet people could betray.

The little princess was like a beam of light, piercing through the shadows in his heart and giving rise to all sorts of emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

Only after being with her did he realize that life held pleasures beyond mere slaughter.

He would never give anyone the chance to take her away. She would always, and only, be his.

[Author’s Note]

I’d love for every chapter to be filled with sweet, affectionate moments, but there will be a stretch of bittersweetness. Once they return to the palace, it’ll be pure sweetness!