Xiao Nanhui had expected to see Xiao Zhun’s silhouette, but when the door creaked open, it was Su Pingchuan who entered.
She was standing quite close to the door, and the young man, unable to check his momentum, nearly collided with her. To avoid an awkward encounter, Xiao Nanhui took the initiative and gave him a hug—partly to celebrate their survival and partly to show a bit of sisterly concern.
"So it’s Brother Pingchuan! It’s been a long time, a long time indeed!"
After the greeting, she stepped back. Su Pingchuan remained rooted to the spot, stiff as a board, only his eyes moving to follow her.
Finding his behavior odd, Xiao Nanhui leaned in closer to inspect him. "What’s wrong with you? Your face is so red..."
These words seemed to break the "binding spell" on him. Su Pingchuan recoiled instantly. "You’re awake? Is your body alright?"
She patted her stomach. "I’m fine. Just some superficial wounds, nothing serious."
"It’s good that you’re alright. I’ll be going now."
He turned on his heel to leave, only to have his path blocked by a broad wall of flesh at the doorway.
Wu Xiaoliu poked his head in. Seeing Xiao Nanhui, his eyes welled with tears. He took a few steps forward, effectively shoving Su Pingchuan back into the room. He looked ready to wail at the top of his lungs, but the moment a sound escaped him, Xiao Nanhui’s palm was there to stifle it.
"Don't howl. I just woke up, and my head hurts."
Wu Xiaoliu was nothing if not compliant. His tears vanished as quickly as they had appeared, his face clearing like the sun after a storm. "I’ve prepared quite a bit of food. If you have the energy, I’ll bring it in now."
Having slept for three days, she was indeed famished. "That would be good. It’s spacious enough here, and the table is large."
Bolao gave a cheer and dragged Wu Xiaoliu outside to fetch the food.
Xiao Nanhui looked up to see Su Pingchuan still standing there stiffly and felt a twinge of guilt. He likely hadn't come specifically to see her but felt awkward leaving now that everyone else was so lively. Regardless, they had shared hardships together; now that they were safely reunited, it was only right to celebrate.
After a moment’s thought, she spoke solemnly. "Brother Pingchuan, since you’re already here, why not stay for a meal before you go?"
Su Pingchuan seemed even more bashful now. After a pause, he nodded. "As you wish."
Bolao walked in carrying a pot of soup. Hearing this, she shot Xiao Nanhui a glare and then looked down at the pot. Her expression clearly said she didn't want another mouth sharing her rations.
Xiao Nanhui feigned ignorance and calmly ladled a bowl of soup for Su Pingchuan. "You haven't told me yet—after we parted last time, how did you all make it to Wancheng? Was the journey smooth?"
Su Pingchuan glanced at Bolao and let out a cold snort. "It’s in the past. Best not to mention it."
From those few words, she sensed something unusual. "It sounds like... it wasn't very smooth?"
Just then, Wu Xiaoliu walked in carrying a food box. Catching the tail end of the conversation, he chimed in naturally.
"Smooth? It nearly cost us half our lives! This Great Hero Bolao is certainly skilled, but she chose paths only monkeys and dogs could sniff out. While the distance was shorter, it was hell on our shoes. We had just cleared the Gobi and entered a forest of scree; the moment your feet touched those slopes, you’d sink right in. Master Hao and I had to crawl and roll our way down. Brother Pingchuan felt that was too undignified and insisted on sliding down sitting up. By the time he stood, half his backside was exposed. Looking back now, it’s truly a memory I’d rather forget..."
Su Pingchuan’s face changed colors in tandem with Wu Xiaoliu’s "plain" narration. Xiao Nanhui found it almost unbearable to watch and lowered her head, pretending to be intensely interested in the peanuts before her.
She had imagined the journey would be eventful, but not *that* eventful. She suspected Wu Xiaoliu still didn't know Su Pingchuan’s true identity; otherwise, he wouldn't be so loose-lipped.
Clearing her throat, she tried to suppress the upward curve of her lips. "In that case, you should have rested longer in Wancheng. Why did you return to Lingxi?"
There was a brief, subtle pause in the air. Then, all three of them spoke almost in unison.
"It certainly wasn't for you."
Xiao Nanhui was surprised by their reaction. "When did I ever say it was for—" She stopped, a smile she couldn't hide spreading across her face. "Was it really for me?"
Bolao rolled her eyes, her tone icy. "Hardly. I heard you had requested to stay with the Black Feather Battalion, so I thought I’d come to meet the Marquis to report on your recent situation. In the blink of an eye, months have passed since you volunteered for the western expedition. For months, the Marquis’s manor had no word of your whereabouts. Now it seems you were simply having too much fun to think of returning."
Xiao Nanhui didn't mind the sarcasm. The mention of Xiao Zhun made it difficult for her to remain calm. "Is my foster father here? Why haven't I seen him? Did something happen? Is he injured..."
"The Marquis isn't here," Bolao interrupted quickly. Seeing the unmistakable disappointment on Nanhui’s face, she added brusquely, "The Radiant Battalion successfully crossed the river at Famang Ridge, catching the Bai Clan off guard. The battle at Sanmu Pass was a great victory. The Marquis wanted to press the advantage. Once he knew you had been rescued, he led the Subei forces southwest. With your thick skin and your habit of taking beatings, you’ll probably be able to go find him in a few days."
Ah, so he had finally won.
He had gone to war as a youth and returned in his prime.
Though he hadn't set foot on this southwestern soil for many years, she knew that the war in Xiao Zhun’s heart had never truly ceased. His long-held wish was finally being fulfilled. Yet, at such a momentous time, she was still not by his side.
She would go to him. Even if... she might be a little late.
While she was lost in thought, Wu Xiaoliu placed a golden-brown roasted naan on the table. "I added cheese and clarified butter to this bread. It’s best eaten while hot."
Bolao’s eyes lit up. she plopped down at the table and began tearing at the bread.
Su Pingchuan watched this, frowning in silence, not touching his utensils.
Xiao Nanhui pulled herself back to the present. Catching sight of him from the corner of her eye, she asked with concern, "Brother Pingchuan, why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your taste?"
Su Pingchuan looked at Bolao and said earnestly, "She is your maid. How can she dine at the same table as you?"
The moment he said it, Xiao Nanhui knew things were about to go south.
Sure enough, Bolao’s voice—which sounded like a cracked bronze gong—shot up to the rafters.
"Maid?!" The features on Bolao’s expressive face jumped around like beans on a plate. Crumbs from the bread tumbled from the corners of her mouth. "Which of your eyes sees me as a maid?"
Su Pingchuan adopted the air of a young master who wouldn't stoop to argue with commoners and turned back to Nanhui. "You were right. This maid’s temper is indeed wretched."
Xiao Nanhui felt two gazes pierce her like chopsticks.
She lowered her head and rubbed her forehead, mouthing silently to Su Pingchuan: *Shut up. Don't say another word.*
The young master of the Su family finally showed some mercy and closed his mouth. He extended his chopsticks toward the roasted lamb leg—Bolao’s favorite.
"Since you don't mind, I suppose I shouldn't say much more. I’ll just have a little bit."
There was only one lamb leg, intended to be carved with a small knife. Naturally, the Great Young Master Su knew nothing of this. Thinking he was only taking a "little bit," he grandly moved the entire lamb leg onto his own plate.
Bolao’s eyes were practically spitting fire.
Before she could transform into a fire-breathing dragon, Xiao Nanhui grabbed her and hauled her out of the room. Poor Bolao had only managed two bites of her bread.
"Xiao Nanhui, you ungrateful woman! Betraying your own for favor..."
In the long corridor outside, Bolao’s loud voice trailed off into a long whine, drawing side-long glances from several passing soldiers.
Xiao Nanhui clamped a hand over the incessant mouth, hissing through gritted teeth, "My ancestor! I beg you, keep it down. This is a military camp, do you think we’re in Auntie Dai’s courtyard?" She paused, feeling a bit indignant herself. "Who is the master and who is the servant? How have I betrayed anyone for favor?"
Bolao yanked her hand away, snorting loudly, her pout reaching her nose. "Then you’ve betrayed your servant for favor! Regardless, you’ve done me a great wrong. I stayed in that godforsaken Tong City for so many days, sending you news and intelligence day and night, and then I had to cross mountains and rivers to pick up those three idiots you found somewhere. I had to be both father and mother to them, and now that I’ve finally made it through, I have to suffer this nonsense here..."
Xiao Nanhui glanced at her and replied flatly, "When I was with the Black Feather Battalion, I met an old acquaintance named Lu. He mentioned he had taken in a very gluttonous 'guest' who ate every single one of his grapes. She seemed to be living quite comfortably."
Bolao blinked, her voice suddenly becoming thin. "Actually, it was only... one bunch a day." She held up a short, thick finger, then curled it back in uncertainty.
Xiao Nanhui looked at that finger and laughed out of sheer frustration. "While you were eating a bunch of grapes a day, your master’s leg was being broken."
Bolao lowered her head even further. "...Who told you not to let me go with you? If the Marquis... if the Marquis asks..."
"He cannot know about this," Xiao Nanhui cut her off decisively.
Bolao looked relieved at first, then deeply confused. "Not let him know? Why not? Did you do something to betray him?"
Xiao Nanhui grew flustered. "What do you mean, betray him?! It’s just a leg injury. It’s not like I haven't been hurt before. Besides, it’s already healed. Why tell him and cause unnecessary worry?"
Bolao gave an "oh" and then leaned in to peer at her again. "But why do I feel like you’re different than before?"
Different? How was she different?
The other girl continued to look at her suspiciously, making Xiao Nanhui feel a bit unnerved. Her heart hammered. Though she knew she hadn't done anything scandalous, she felt strangely guilty. Before she could dwell on the feeling, Bolao looked away.
"Fine. Hao Bai told me anyway—it must be because you kept too many men in that Bijiang village. If I’d known you were that thirsty, I would have picked a few for you from Yao Yi’s group. At least we’d know their backgrounds."
Xiao Nanhui felt the blood rush to her head. She wanted to pluck this insolent, gossiping "quail" and throw her into a stew pot.
Sensing the murderous intent, Bolao greased her heels and vaulted onto the wall. Once she knew her leverage wouldn't be used against Xiao Zhun, her large head perked up again, looking like a winter melon come to life from behind.
Xiao Nanhui was annoyed and wanted to give chase, but the wound at her waist throbbed, and the conversation had left her feeling inexplicably restless. She turned and walked in the opposite direction.
She had intended to take a short walk to clear her head before returning to eat, but as she left the corridor and entered a courtyard, she immediately recognized the stone table and benches.
She had thought this was some government office in the old city of Yanxi, but she realized now that this was Prefect Sun’s residence. After months of wandering, she had returned to this very spot.
Time had passed, and the Sun residence looked nothing like it once had. The previous massacre had left it scarred, but after the Tiancheng army moved in, they had cleared away all the clutter. The surroundings were so clean it looked like a newly built manor.
She felt a brief pang of pity for Prefect Sun’s beautiful concubines, wondering what had become of them.
As she wandered and reminisced, she drifted quite far. Just as she was about to turn back, someone suddenly emerged in front of her.
"Greetings, Right General." The man stopped five paces away and gave a respectful salute, showing his waist token. He was clearly well-trained. "I am an adjutant under the Fufeng Captain of the Wild Goose Wing Battalion. Lieutenant Ding sent me to fetch you; he requests your presence at the assembly hall."
Ding Weixiang?
This was likely a case of "the visitor comes with ill intent." He had actually tracked her down here.
Alarm bells rang in her mind. She put on a troubled expression, using a third-rate excuse to decline. "Where is this assembly hall? It sounds rather far. I’ve only just recovered from my injuries and shouldn't be walking about too much..."
"No matter. I shall send men to bring a sedan chair immediately."
If she were carried through the camp in a sedan chair, she wouldn't be able to show her face tomorrow.
Xiao Nanhui waved her hands frantically, her gestures almost resembling a martial arts form. "How could I allow that? I’m just feeling slightly unwell; a few days of rest will do. If Lieutenant Ding has no urgent business, perhaps another day..."
"It is indeed urgent." The man cut her off instantly, his tone still perfectly polite. "If the General truly finds it difficult to walk, I can carry you there on my back."
*Brother, I give up.*
"Carry... that won't be necessary." She forced a smile and adjusted the white bandage around her waist. "Lead the way, then."
***
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