Fang Er only dared to return home after wandering outside until dark, the chili powder as thick as a finger truly made his heart tremble.
When he entered the house, he was still a little apprehensive, not knowing if Chai Shao had finished the grilled fish.
To his surprise, upon entering, Chai Yue didn't mention the grilled fish at all.
The house was quiet. Changsun Ling'er and the other women had disappeared. Even the guards Su Feng and Su Mu, as well as Hua Niang, were nowhere to be seen. Only Chai Yue herself sat in the living room.
"Where are they? Why are you the only one home?"
Fang Er scanned the room, not seeing anyone else, and casually asked Chai Yue.
"Is my husband tired? I'll get you some water."
Chai Yue didn't answer his question. Instead, she covered her face and stood up, walking to the water dispenser, pouring a cup of warm water and handing it over.
Fang Er then noticed that her eyes were swollen, for some reason, and her eyes were red, as if she had been crying.
Coupled with Chai Yue being the only one at home, this made his heart sink. He quickly took Chai Yue's hand and asked, "What happened?"
"It's nothing, nothing..."
Chai Yue waved her hands repeatedly, trying her best to conceal her emotions.
She didn't say why she was crying, nor did she ask Fang Er anything. After putting down the water cup, she turned and went to the kitchen.
Fang Er stared blankly at her retreating back, feeling an inexplicable tightness in his chest.
When Chai Yue returned, she brought out not the grilled fish left by Chai Shao in the morning, but several plates of small dishes and a pot of wine.
She smiled, sat beside Fang Er, and poured him wine, even gently picking up food for him.
"My husband is out all day, so he rarely gets to eat my cooking at home. That's why I sent all the sisters away today, just the two of us, to have some alone time."
"In the main world, I saw a saying online that to capture a man's heart, you must first capture his stomach."
"Husband, quickly try these. These dishes are new for me. See if they suit your taste?"
After saying that, she looked at Fang Er with expectation, like a young girl in love.
"What's wrong with you today?"
Fang Er's brow furrowed. If she hadn't shown signs of crying, he might have believed her words.
But Chai Yue's current state told him that something was definitely going on!
Chai Yue, however, smiled, brushed a stray strand of hair from her temple, and replied casually.
"Nothing, I just want to be alone with my husband. What, are you afraid I can't handle you myself tonight?"
Fang Er: ...
Seeing that she was unwilling to speak, he didn't press further, assuming her words were true.
The food wasn't exactly delicious, but after all, it was made by his wife, and it was all his usual favorites.
Half a catty of white wine went down, and he devoured more than half of the dishes. Chai Yue didn't eat a single bite, saying she had already eaten.
"Alright, we're full and have had enough to drink. It's time for the real business!"
"Since you're so confident, let me see where your confidence comes from to fight the evil dragon alone!"
Fang Er pushed away his bowl and pulled Chai Yue towards the room.
This was a prime opportunity, and it shouldn't be missed.
A great battle ensued, with wind and clouds rising.
After a passionate encounter, Chai Yue nestled in Fang Er's arms and suddenly spoke.
"Husband, I want to go back to Chang'an."
Fang Er blinked in surprise. "Why go back to Chang'an all of a sudden?"
"For no reason, I just want to visit Fang Family Village."
"If you want to go back, then go. I'll have someone send you back tomorrow."
"Mmm, my husband is so good..."
Chai Yue smiled with satisfaction as her wish was granted.
...
The next morning, before Fang Er even woke up, Chai Yue had already embarked on her journey back to Chang'an.
She left in a gold prospecting ship, accompanied by the four maids Bing Xue, Yu Lu. Apart from them, she didn't bring any guards.
When Fang Er woke up and learned of this, he didn't pay much attention.
How could the maids of a military family be ordinary people?
Those four maids were all skilled in martial arts, they just hadn't displayed it. Moreover, they were all armed for self-defense. In the Great Tang, he couldn't think of anyone who would dare to target them.
However, he didn't realize that his carelessness had caused him to miss something.
The gold prospecting ship was very fast. The journey of over six thousand kilometers was completed from morning to evening. By evening, Chai Yue had returned to Chang'an.
She didn't return to the Fang residence or the Duke of Qiao's mansion. Instead, she went directly to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Fang Family Village.
She dismissed the soldiers guarding the cemetery and ordered the four maids to guard the gate and not allow anyone to enter. Chai Yue went alone to a corner of the cemetery.
Here, there was a grave, without a tombstone, nor a name, just a solitary mound.
She placed the sacrificial offerings she had brought in front of the grave and stood there quietly, without a word.
Just then, four women in black suddenly appeared from nowhere and knelt in unison behind Chai Yue.
"Your subordinate greets the County Princess!"
Chai Yue didn't turn her head, she simply said faintly, "Get up. You've worked hard these past few days."
One of the four women cupped her fist. "It's not hard. Our lives were saved by the Eldest Princess, so we are willing to do this!"
Chai Yue asked again, "How is the matter I entrusted to you progressing?"
"Reporting to the County Princess, it is done. The three hundred elite remnants of the Women's Army are ready to follow your command at any time!"
"Go and summon them all. This County Princess needs to take you on a long journey!"
"Yes!"
Crisply and efficiently, the four women did not ask her what the journey was for, they simply acknowledged and quickly disappeared into the cemetery.
No one knew when these former members of the Women's Army had been gathered by her. Even Li Xiuning, who had deliberately searched for them before, had failed to find any trace of them!
These people had, brazenly, been hiding in Fang Family Village!
Guarding this solitary grave!
After the four female generals left, Chai Yue's eyes gradually turned red. Then, without any warning, she knelt before the grave.
A mournful cry echoed through the cemetery.
"Mother..."