Xiao Luo fell silent. He had always found Chu Qingge troublesome, constantly causing him problems – disguising herself as a man, sneaking into the army, charging onto the front lines. He thought Chu Qingge's actions were reckless, yet he never realized they were because of him.
"I only looked after you more because of Man'er."
Chu Qingge's body swayed, but she quickly steadied herself. So, it was her own wishful thinking. She thought by staying in the army to accompany him, charging into battle, she could move this block of wood. In the end, it was all in vain.
"Alright, I know your answer now." Chu Qingge turned away, tears streaming down her face. "I will return to the capital tomorrow, and from now on, I will never disturb the Young General again."
Xiao Luo watched Chu Qingge's lonely departing back, feeling an inexplicable panic. She had suddenly confessed her feelings for him, and he truly didn't know how to respond.
"Let's not worry about it for now. The immediate priority is preparing for tonight's night raid. We'll deal with other matters after we return."
Xiao Luo and Du Gu Mingyu split into two groups to launch a night raid on Pingxi City. However, Xia Hou Ying did not engage in battle at all. The two were forced to retreat. Upon returning to Yang Pass, something felt amiss. After much thought, they finally realized Chu Qingge was missing.
"Someone!"
"Young General."
"Where has Chu Qingge gone?"
"Reporting to the Young General, she has left."
"Where did she go? Why didn't you stop her?" Xiao Luo asked sternly. In such chaotic times, what if something happened to her?
The soldier scratched his head. "Didn't you order us to have her sent back to the capital tomorrow? So, when she wanted to leave, we let her go."
Xiao Luo then remembered that he had arranged for a carriage to escort Chu Qingge back to the capital. He waved the soldier away and sat alone in his tent, feeling a sense of loss, as if a piece of his heart was missing.
"Young General," Du Gu Mingyu entered. "I don't know what Xia Hou Ying is thinking, avoiding battle. Should we continue the attack?"
"Cease hostilities," Xiao Luo said softly. He was not in the mood to fight Xia Hou Ying right now.
Du Gu Mingyu looked around the tent. "Miss Chu isn't here?"
"She has returned to the Imperial Capital," Xiao Luo leaned back in his chair. "It's for the best. It's dangerous here. Her leaving makes things simpler."
Upon hearing this, Du Gu Mingyu chuckled. "Look at the Young General's dejected expression. A true man should tell the person he likes directly. If you hide your feelings, and she becomes disheartened and gives up, she will become someone else's woman."
"What do you mean?"
"When Eldest Miss left Yunzhong City, she asked me to look after Miss Chu in secret. She had the courage to follow the Young General to the battlefield. Surely the Young General's courage is not less than a woman's?"
"Nonsense!"
Du Gu Mingyu turned to leave. "Whether it's nonsense or not, the Young General knows in his heart. If you don't go after her, and Miss Chu marries someone else, don't blame me for your future sorrow."
Xiao Luo watched Du Gu Mingyu's calmly departing back. He grabbed a document from the desk, intending to throw it at him, but finally put it down. After a moment of contemplation, without even changing out of his armor, he saddled a fast horse and rode out of the military camp.
"Where is the Young General rushing off to in such a hurry?" Deputy General Lu asked in confusion.
"He's going to chase his wife."
Upon hearing that he was chasing his wife, everyone's eyes lit up, and they quickly asked, "Whose wife is it? Is she pretty?"
"Beautiful, like a celestial being."
"When did the Young General take a liking to this wife? How come we brothers don't know about it?" everyone asked excitedly. It turned out gossip wasn't exclusively a woman's domain; men enjoyed it too.
The carriage traveled towards the Imperial Capital. Chu Qingge sat silently inside, weeping. Now, she had truly given up. Even though she had followed him to Yunzhong City, to the army, it was useless if Xiao Luo didn't like her.
Chu Qingge wiped her tears and patted her face hard. "Don't cry, and don't feel wronged. At least I fought for it, I did my best. If he doesn't like me, it's his lack of vision. When I get back to the capital, I'll find someone to marry immediately. It's not like he's the only man!"
Suddenly, the carriage curtain was lifted. Chu Qingge was still sobbing when she saw a certain blind scoundrel appear before her, clad in armor, with a faint scent of blood.
"Am I seeing things?" Chu Qingge patted her face again. When she opened her eyes, Xiao Luo was still in front of her, his handsome face softened. "You... why are you here?"
The carriage stopped. Xiao Luo sat on the shafts. "Didn't I say I would escort you back?"
"No need. I have legs and know how to get back myself," Chu Qingge forced herself to remain calm. "The Young General is busy with important matters, you should go back." Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Luo sighed and took out a bracelet, placing it on Chu Qingge's wrist. "This is the only memento my mother left me. Keep it safe."
After saying this, Xiao Luo got off the carriage, mounted his horse, and rode away. Chu Qingge chased after him. "Xiao Luo, what do you mean?"
Xiao Luo reined in his horse and turned back with a smile. "Go back to the Imperial Capital and wait for me. When I return, I will marry you."
Xiao Man looked at the invitation placed on the table. After pondering for a long time, she finally decided not to go. Her relationship with Wen Mo Yu was like fire and water. Wen Mo Yu was determined to kill her, and she was no lamb waiting to be slaughtered. If she continued to associate closely with Wen Mo Han, it would ultimately put Wen Mo Han in a difficult position.
"Miss, the item you wanted." Qiu Tong placed a box on the table. Inside lay a high-quality inkstone. This was her birthday gift for Wen Mo Han. Although she didn't plan to maintain contact with Wen Mo Han, she had to fulfill her promise.
"Put it away. Have someone deliver it to the Prime Minister's manor tomorrow morning." Xiao Man sat before the chessboard. Whenever her mind was unsettled, she liked to play chess to calm herself.
"Yes, Miss."
As Xiao Man made her moves, she contemplated the current situation. The Crown Prince's faction held the position of heir apparent. As long as the Crown Prince did not make any major mistakes, no one could unseat him. Therefore, the other princes would undoubtedly band together to first bring down the Crown Prince.
Only when the Crown Prince fell and the position of heir apparent became vacant would others have room to develop. And the Crown Prince, to secure his position, would surely eliminate those who posed the greatest threat to him. Who could that be?
What was the purpose of the person who repeatedly attacked her from the shadows? If they needed the support of the General's manor, they should have tried to win her over, not attack her repeatedly.
What was Xiao Ling seeking by cooperating with Wen Mo Yu? Did Xiao Ling really risk her own life to kill her? No, Xiao Ling was not someone who would go to such extremes.
And what about the Fourth Concubine? She had remained steady and unmoving within the manor, and no leverage could be found against her. Whose person was she, lurking within the General's manor, and what did she intend to do?