Shao Jingyu has killed countless people, but the death of a few ignorant and gossipy women means nothing to him compared to an indifferent look from Yan Yiming.

Yan Yiming is always cold and taciturn, but when you see him, or Yun Xiao, or look at everyone who shares common memories with him, even if his face is cold, his eyes are warm.

This was the first time Shao Jingyu saw Yan Yiming's eyes like this.

And, it was directed at him.

He must have a lot to say to Yan Yiming, but after all he had to say, in the end, all that seemed left was a sorry.

And the word "I'm sorry" was too understatement for him and her, because if they were to begin to say I'm sorry, it might have to be traced back to the last battle that had passed a long time ago.

I have lost count of them.

Shao Jingyu recalled with some uncertainty, the original intention was clearly to make her life better, but now, she was not living well at all.

Yan Yiming was not a woman in the boudoir who was filled with sorrow and melancholy. The surviving maids who had not intervened served him tremblingly, trying to see a hint of other expressions on Yan Yiming's face, but there was none.

Those were clearly several lives lost, but Yan Yiming didn't even raise his eyelids, and even said casually that they were dead.

"I heard there was blood on the board..." the little maid said again with trembling courage. They almost lost their courage when they thought of Tongbao's heart-wrenching cry, but they didn't expect Yan Yiming to raise his head with a puzzled look.

"If the beating doesn't produce blood, why bother beating?"

Everyone was speechless.

Tongbao and the others just said some things they shouldn't have said, but they were beaten to death. And they were beaten to death because of her, so why isn't she afraid?

Or maybe, the young master punished Tongbao and others so severely for her, clearly holding her at the top of his heart, so why didn't she smile?

The young master had just chased after them. They had never seen a young master who spoke so carefully and humbly. He stood outside the door and called her. After a long while, they only heard Yan Yiming's still cold voice. She said,

"I don't want to see you right now."

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. Nowadays, even the mistress and the master had to give the young master some face. Who would dare to speak to him like this?

But Yan Yiming dared, and the most incomprehensible thing was that the young master was not angry at all. He even staggered and almost kneeled down when he heard this.

No one understood, no one knew why Shao Jingyu, who was so proud, would be so tolerant of that woman. Was it because he loved her so much that he could let others trample on him?

They didn't dare to say anything or make any more comments. The scene of Tongbao's body being dragged out was still vivid in their minds.

The unlit room was pitch black. The little maid tiptoed into the room and saw Yan Yiming sitting in front of the window, quietly looking at the full moon in the moonlight.

The moon on the sixteenth was very round and bright. Yan Yiming's long hair was loose and the silver light shone all over his body. The little maid actually felt an indescribable chill and loneliness.

Being able to marry the young master and being loved by him so much, what else could she be dissatisfied or unhappy about? The little maid quietly left the room, leaving the silence to Yan Yiming alone.

After this, Yan Yiming became more and more like a taboo that no one was allowed to mention.

No one in the Shao family had ever thought that Shao Jingyu would be so cruel just because of a few words. Such behavior was beyond their comprehension, and the little good impression they had of Yan Yiming disappeared completely.

It has reached the point where it must be eliminated as soon as possible.

Yan Yiming knew how nervous the little maid was when she delivered the medicine every day, so she deliberately lied and asked her why the medicine tasted like ginkgo. The little maid didn't know what ginkgo was, so Yan Yiming shook the medicine in the bowl and raised his eyes and said softly,

"Naturally, it's the taste that shortens my life."

The little maid fell to her knees with a thud, and the candied fruit in her hands fell all over the floor. She trembled and cried, and dared not harm the girl.

"I don't think you would dare to do that either," Yan Yiming put the medicine on the table, "but my illness has been cured and I don't need any more medicine. Please return the favor and thank Madam for her care over the past few days."

The little maidservant fled without even raising her head.

Yan Yiming had no idea what was actually in the medicine, and the amount added was actually very small, so little that Xiao Pingguo could tell that there was something bad in it but didn't know what it was, let alone ask a doctor to check.

There is no harm in taking this medicine once or twice a day, but it will accumulate over time, especially for a person with a body full of wounds like Yan Yiming, who can easily die.

It’s not that Yan Yiming was reluctant to leave this body, but she was bored staying here for too long and wanted to end it as soon as possible.

Appropriate stimulation of Mrs. Shao could also speed up the progress.

On the other side, Mrs. Shao, after hearing the panicked words of the little maid, suddenly realized that this idiot had been fooled by Yan Yiming. But this also confirmed Yan Yiming's guess and made Yan Yiming realize the evil intentions she had been hiding.

Mrs. Shao didn't know why Yan Yiming found out. After all, she had successfully kept the secret from her son, let alone Yan Yiming.

But she did notice it.

This made Mrs. Shao very nervous.

Her son's obsession with Yan Yiming was beyond her imagination. If she made her dissatisfaction known, she believed that Shao Jingyu would move to the general's mansion with Yan Yiming without hesitation, which was a situation she could not accept.

In a blink of an eye, it is Mrs. Shao’s 70th birthday. It is also a full-year birthday. Mrs. Shao is the mother of the current imperial concubine, and the imperial concubine intends to give her mother a grand birthday celebration.

All the nobles in the capital were invited to visit the Shao family's house, and the family became extremely lively for a while.

Mrs. Shao specially allowed the younger generations in the mansion not to read books or do needlework today, and they could play freely for the day. She also ordered someone to inform Yan Yiming that today was Old Mrs. Shao's birthday, and since he was going to marry into the Shao family in the future, he should make preparations early, as he might have to meet all the ladies and young ladies today.

Shao Jingyu originally disagreed. She knew that Yan Yiming was a cold person and hated these things the most. It would be better to let her drink with a group of men than to let her talk with a group of old ladies, so she refused immediately.

Mrs. Shao tried to persuade him again and again but it was useless. However, she did not expect Yan Yiming to agree to this matter on his own initiative. She said that they would meet sooner or later.

Since the last time, Shao Jingyu rarely saw Yan Yiming so calm. He always felt guilty towards her. He didn't want to embarrass Yan Yiming, so he could only let Yun Xiao go and talk to Yan Yiming.

He remembered clearly that Yun Xiao came back and told him that Yan Yiming said she missed the grasslands in the north.

She said she missed the starry sky above the grassland and the feeling of the cool breeze blowing on her face in the middle of the night. She said the moon here was not as beautiful as that on the grassland.

Shao Jingyu didn't dare to think about the deeper meaning behind these words.

Today is the best mood Yan Yiming has had since that day. Shao Jingyu certainly would not refuse her wish. Since Yan Yiming wanted to go there, she would not stop him. The only regret was that she was a man and could not accompany Yan Yiming to meet the ladies.

After thinking it over, he still felt uneasy, and repeatedly told Yan Yiming, "If you don't want to see me, just say you are tired and go back to rest. Don't put yourself in a difficult position."

Yan Yiming nodded to indicate that he understood. Madam Shao stood by and forced a smile, promising to take good care of Yan Yiming. Shao Jingyu said, "A Ming doesn't like to talk. Mother must help me take good care of her."

"Of course," Mrs. Shao glanced at Yan Yiming, somewhat puzzled as to why Yan Yiming had not told Shao Jingyu that there was actually a rift between them.

Maybe he wanted to use this as a gesture of goodwill to ease the situation?

Mrs. Shao couldn't think of any other reason, but since Yan Yiming didn't say anything, she felt even happier and more comfortable. She still smiled gently and promised Shao Jingyu that she would definitely not let Yan Yiming suffer any grievances.

The two people were playing a riddle tacitly. Mrs. Shao wondered what Yan Yiming was thinking, or maybe he would take the opportunity to say something, but she didn't.

After Shao Jingyu left, Yan Yiming nodded lightly and turned away, leaving Mrs. Shao dumbfounded and almost breaking her nails.

She always wanted to find ways to embarrass her so that she would not be able to marry Jingyu. As for the former, today was simply the best time.

She regained her former gentle appearance. Now she was the biological mother of the general, and her identity was self-evident. She naturally liked such gatherings very much. After checking her appearance, she walked leisurely towards Old Lady Shao, and ordered someone to "invite" Yan Yiming over after an hour, when most of the guests had arrived.

Even though Shao Jingyu and the Imperial Concubine had great reputation, when the Ninth Princess, who was born to the Imperial Concubine, and the other two princesses with whom she had a very good relationship, came to the Shao Mansion in person, everyone in the Shao family was flattered, not to mention the other noble ladies and young ladies in the capital.

The opera troupe set up in the back garden had not yet started performing, and people started gossiping. Old Mrs. Shao ordered all the girls from the Shao family to come and see them. Sure enough, some people talked about the woman that Shao Jingyu brought back from the north.

Shao Jingyu actually refused the Majesty's marriage proposal for this woman. This matter caused a lot of discussion in the capital for a while. Jian Yuer was so angry that she was angry with Jian Xiang. The other people were unexpectedly curious about the woman that General Shao loved.

When Mrs. Shao thought of all the scary things Shao Jingyu had done for Yan Yiming in recent days, her hand that was fiddling with the Buddhist beads trembled suddenly.

She didn't want to see Yan Yiming at all and wished she could get out of the Shao family immediately. But when these words were mentioned, even the princess became curious and wanted to meet her sister-in-law.

Madam Shao advised softly, "It's too early to call you sister-in-law, Princess, please don't say anything nonsense."

"My cousin has said that he will marry no one else but her, can that be true?" The princess is actually very innocent. The woman who can make Shao Jingyu so devoted to her must be an extraordinary beauty.

Mrs. Shao was unhappy, but she didn't dare to refuse the princess' words, so she ordered someone to call Yan Yiming over, and then apologized with a smile, "She is just a country girl, her behavior is a bit vulgar, I am sorry to make you laugh."

Everyone responded meaningfully. After hearing this, they understood that Mrs. Shao must be dissatisfied with such a daughter-in-law. Now that Shao Jingyu is in great demand, since Mrs. Shao doesn't like him, there may still be some chances.

Everyone thought about it in their hearts. After waiting for a while, all the young ladies of the Shao family came in. They were all dressed up beautifully and greeted Old Madam Shao sweetly. Madam Shao turned her beautiful eyes and asked the young lady with peach blossom eyes, "Why didn't Ming come over?"

Mrs. Dingguo, who was sitting far away, suddenly heard the familiar name, and the tea in her hand caused a small ripple.

Her daughter had been dead for many years, and few people around her mentioned the name "A Ming". They always called her the Crown Princess. Only late at night, when she thought of her daughter's bright smile, Mrs. Yan would always call her dead daughter's nickname with tears in her eyes.

Mrs. Shao asked why Yan Yiming didn't come. The young lady thought for a moment and said, "When I came, I seemed to see her playing chess with Yun Xiao by the lake."

Who is Yun Xiao? No one knows.

However, an idea suddenly came to Mrs. Shao's mind. After quickly thinking about the feasibility, her face suddenly darkened.

A lady sitting next to her noticed Mrs. Shao’s gloomy face and asked her curiously who Yun Xiao was.

Madam Shao looked extremely embarrassed, and after a while she said, "He is the son of Jingyu's wet nurse. He grew up in the mansion and went to Mobei with Jingyu."

The girl who had just answered had the opportunity to guess Mrs. Shao's thoughts and added, "But Sister Yan has always had a good relationship with Yun Xiao. They often played together before. Don't worry, mother. I have asked someone to urge her."

Everyone understood immediately, and after understanding, they inevitably had some thoughts.

Since she went to Mobei with Shao Jingyu, and the woman also came back with Shao Jingyu, Yun Xiao and the woman must have known each other.

But even if they knew each other before, this woman is now going to marry Shao Jingyu. After all, there are differences between men and women, and it is really unacceptable for her to be so ignorant of taboos.

No wonder Mrs. Shao looked so embarrassed.

Yan Yiming had nothing to do, but he happened to run into Yun Xiao and chatted with him for a while. When he walked to the lake, there was a chessboard carved on the stone table with chess pieces next to it. He just picked it up and played with it.

But Yun Xiao was so bad at Go that Yan Yiming had no choice but to teach him how to play Go. Yun Xiao suddenly became interested in it.

The two played for a long time. The maid beside Madam Shao hurriedly urged her to go over. Yan Yiming put the chess pieces in his hand into the chess box. Yun Xiao raised his head and said excitedly, "This is the first time I have seen this way of playing. We will continue playing when you come back."

Maybe it was because Yan Yiming practiced Tai Chi, or maybe she forgot to agree, Yun Xiao later remembered that he didn't hear Yan Yiming's answer at all that day.

Everyone was looking forward to it and finally waited for the legendary Miss Yan.

I thought it would be a person with charming appearance, otherwise how could Shao Jingyu be so devoted to her. However, she was tall and thin, dressed in the simplest blue robe, with her long hair tied up with an ebony hairpin. She looked cold and indifferent, and seemed out of place in front of this noble man dressed in jewels and precious stones.

She had a very good appearance, and for some reason, although she was an unarmed woman, there seemed to be an indescribable murderous aura around her.

At a glance, there was only one word in everyone's mind: No entry, no strangers allowed.

Such a person... Thinking of everyone's guesses just now, I suddenly felt that something didn't make sense.

Only Madam Yan from the Duke Dingguo's Mansion was stunned for a moment when she saw the red mole at the corner of the woman's eye.

Yan Yiming wished Mrs. Shao a happy birthday in a cold voice that matched her appearance very well. She then met everyone. Although her every move was not as graceful as the standards of young ladies, she was free and easy in a unique way, which made her look more dignified.

There was no trace of the vulgarity that Mrs. Shao had described.

The person who came was so different from what they had imagined that everyone present was at a loss for words. Old Madam Shao was furious when she saw her simple dress and said, "Today is my big day. Why are you dressing like this and neglecting the guests?"

Yan Yiming looked himself over and said indifferently, "I have chosen this outfit over and over again, so how can I be negligent? If the old lady doesn't like it, I can change it."

The little princess next to her giggled, "I like you like this, it's more comfortable to look at than an ordinary lady."

"Thank you," Yan Yiming said. She knew that this was the princess, but as Yan Yiming now, she shouldn't know the princess.

The princess was slightly stunned and then smiled, "You are quite straightforward. No wonder Brother Jingyu likes you."

Yan Yiming's eyes moved and he bowed slightly, "I don't know you, it turns out to be Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Mrs. Shao looked at everyone around her and thought silently in her heart.

If they use this opportunity to put the blame on Yan Yiming today, the Shao family will inevitably be laughed at in the capital for a while. However, if they can use this opportunity to cut off the possibility of Yan Yiming marrying Shao Jingyu, then what will it matter if their reputation is damaged?

Now that she had figured it out, Madam Shao waited until the princess and Yan Yiming finished talking and asked her in a deep voice, "Where were you just now?"

Others were enjoying watching the show, wanting to see if the woman would lie to them.

Unexpectedly, the woman said frankly, "Playing chess with Yun Xiao by the lake."

Neither humble nor arrogant, and there is a frank look in his eyes.

"I know you and Yun Xiao have known each other for a long time, but now that you are Jingyu's wife-to-be, you should be careful about your behavior so as not to embarrass Jingyu."

Who exactly made Shao Jingyu lose face? Yan Yiming no longer wanted to argue with her.

She frowned and looked at Madam Shao, and after a long while she suddenly asked her, "What do you mean, Madam?"

Mrs. Shao was even more displeased to see her still being so domineering. It was obvious that she was the first to violate morals. She looked very confident and immediately waved her hand, "Get down quickly, or you will be laughed at!"

"What have I done to make people laugh at me?"

"Isn't it ridiculous that you are clearly engaged to Jingyu but are having an affair with other men?"

Yan Yiming was stunned. A hint of anger finally appeared on her cold face. She stared at Mrs. Shao and said word by word, "If I understand correctly, Mrs. Shao suspects that I have an affair with Yun Xiao?"

Everyone present gasped.

What kind of woman can say such words in front of so many people?

Mrs. Shao could not imagine it no matter what. She had never seen a woman with such a terrifying aura. The pair of eyes staring at her were full of hatred and murderous intent. Miss Shao next to her protected Mrs. Shao and said anxiously, "It's you who don't know how to behave yourself..."

"You really make me sick," Yan Yiming said.

Miss Shao was interrupted by Yan Yiming's words before she finished speaking. She was stunned for a moment, thinking that she was hallucinating. Finally, she asked her uncertainly, "What did you say?"

Yan Yiming's eyes passed over Mrs. Shao, then to Old Lady Shao, and then he said word by word in front of all the guests,

"I say your Shao family really makes me sick."

Even the ladies who were well-informed and experienced did not know what expression to use to face everything at the moment. Does this woman know what she is talking about?

No matter how much Shao Jingyu doted on her, he would not allow her to insult his family like this.

Old Madam Shao got so angry that she flipped over from her chair, shaking with anger while holding her cane. "You, you vulgar woman! You still want to enter my Shao family from now on? It's impossible! Someone, go and call Jingyu over, let him see what the woman he is protecting looks like!"

"After today, I don't want to enter your Shao family's door again," Yan Yiming sneered, "It would be best to ask him to come, so that he can see that I didn't die on the battlefield at the hands of a hundred thousand cavalrymen, but today I will die in the gossip of a group of ignorant women."

"How dare you call us ignorant women?"

Miss Shao screamed.

But there are still people who quickly grasp the words.

On the battlefield, a hundred thousand cavalrymen, what does this mean?

Mrs. Shao was such a smart person that she quickly discovered the confusing words in Yan Yiming's words. She suddenly had a bad premonition in her heart and opened her mouth with a weaker momentum, "What do you mean by this?"

Yan Yiming ignored her and approached her step by step. His voice was like a ghost from hell.

"I have endured for so long, I have had enough. You, your family, have arbitrarily decided my life and death and arranged my life. A group of you have wantonly trampled on my life and destroyed my innocence."

"You always ask me why, so I'll tell you why. In the summer of the 48th year of Chen Xia, I followed Shao Jingyu to hunt down the Mongolian King of Mobei. I saved Shao Jingyu's life and now have a bloody hole on my leg. In the summer and autumn of the 48th year of Chen Xia, Shao Jingyu ordered me to stay in the camp while he was trapped in Yinshan. I risked my life to rescue him. In the spring of the 49th year of Chen Xia, in the last battle of Mobei, it was his wrong decision that made me face 100,000 Mongolian troops. I fought bloody battles for seven days and killed countless enemies to win a chance to fight. In that battle, I was hit by an arrow, shot in the waist and abdomen, and pierced through the back by a long knife. I risked my life to hold the battle until the last moment when he came."

Yan Yiming never cried, she was always acting, but when she thought of those soldiers who fought bravely, and those battlefields littered with corpses, it was so miserable and desperate. It was they who exchanged their lives for their stability and peace.

But what did I get in return?

She thought of those familiar but dead faces and suddenly felt extremely unworthy.

Tears slowly fell from his eyes, but Yan Yiming still seemed to be smiling, "I saved him three times and helped him to have his current position, but what have you done? Your son wiped out all my merits because of his so-called love, and now he has become a useless person, and you, time and time again, have you ever asked me if I am willing or not? I am a woman who was forced to join the army, but I have made achievements and have done a good job. I have never owed anyone anything, let alone your Shao family. How can you have the nerve to make things difficult for me!"

Women join the army!

How could everyone present guess who she was now? The Ninth Princess widened her eyes and covered her mouth, screaming, "You are Yiyong Marquis Yan Yiqing!"

Yan Yiqing was the name given to her by the emperor. Because her name conflicted with the Crown Princess's, people did not know her real name.

However, Yan Yiming was grateful for this name because she saw Mrs. Yan not far away, looking at her since she came in.

The same maiden name, the same red mole, if they had the same name again, it would be too hurtful to Madam Yan.

As soon as the name of Yiyong Hou was mentioned, it was like a thunderclap exploding on the spot.

After the last battle, the reputation of Yiyong Hou was even not less than that of Shao Jingyu. It was said that he was a boy who was half a year younger than Shao Jingyu. It was said that he used clever tricks to destroy tens of thousands of Mongolian troops without fighting, and he was so brave that he killed hundreds of people alone. Later, I heard that in a previous battle, he boldly kidnapped a captain who was of a higher rank than him and led the troops alone, helping Shao Jingyu win a great victory.

During the two years of war, Shao Jingyu stood out, and this young man born in a civilian family became well-known.

His Majesty once shed tears and asked why such a genius had such a short life. In order to commemorate him, His Majesty appointed him as a third-rank general of chariots and cavalry and gave him the title of Marquis Yiyong with two thousand households.

The words "willed and brave" are enough to describe his life. The numerous posthumous titles he received show the emperor's appreciation and honor for him.

But now, who would have thought that this young man who was famous on the battlefield was actually a woman.

And it turns out that this was the reason for his fall.

Regardless of whether she is a man or a woman, with such an achievement, she would be a superior person and should be an existence as respected as Shao Jingyu. However, now she is locked up in this deep boudoir and allowed to be insulted by them in every possible way.

She even saved Shao Jingyu's life many times.

A hero is always admired, even if she is a woman. When the ladies looked at Yan Yiming again, their eyes had changed. Mrs. Shao finally lost her composure and kept saying it was impossible. Her eyes suddenly became sharp, "You are committing the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

"I am guilty of deceiving the emperor, but Shao Jingyu also deceived the emperor by hiding my life experience from him," Yan Yiming sneered. "I am alone so I have never been afraid of anything, but because of my feelings for him, I never told him anything. But you are really going too far. Yun Xiao and I were comrades who fought side by side, but you said such dirty things about us. I would rather die on the battlefield than be forced to die here with such a crime."

Mrs. Shao stepped back in panic, staring at the woman in front of her in amazement.

Why does she always act differently from ordinary women, why does Jingyu protect her in every possible way, and why can she remain calm in the face of life and death.

Because she is actually a Rakshasa who walked out of the gap between life and death.

Mrs. Shao made one mistake after another. The crime of deceiving the emperor was engraved in her heart and made her look panic-stricken. When she looked at Yan Yiming again, she could no longer call out the name Miss Yan.

She should have been a general.

The Seventh Princess, who had been very quiet, finally reacted. She walked slowly towards Yan Yiming and said, "Although the general is a woman, she is also a hero. My father is not a pedantic person. I will definitely serve the general..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw a trace of blood on Yan Yiming's lips and he screamed immediately.

Suddenly, a surge of blood surged in her heart and Yan Yiming became unsteady on her feet. A lady hurriedly helped her up. Yan Yiming saw bloodshot eyes and realized that it was the Lady Yan, whom she had called mother several times in the past.

I am sorry for you, Yan Yiming thought to himself. In fact, Miss Yan should have lived a long time. If it weren’t for her, Miss Yan would not have died.

This farce finally came to an end. Yan Yiming collapsed without warning amid the exclamations of everyone, blood oozing from her lips. She could hear the sharp voices of women, some well-intentioned and some unintentional, in her ears. In the last moment before she lost consciousness, she heard them exclaiming "General".

Her body was suddenly transferred into the iron-like arms, and she heard Shao Jingyu shouting her name almost crazily.

Shao Jingyu's face could no longer be seen. She opened her mouth with difficulty and said her last few words.

She said she missed the starry sky over the grassland a little.

She somewhat missed the boy who talked to her under the starry sky.

And you are no longer him.

"I wanted to take a last-minute look at the starry sky above the grassland, but it was too late."

"When I die, have someone bury me in the small village of Liujia south of Peking. Don't come to see me. I don't want to see you again."

"I remember it was Liujia Village. There was a small hill there. I could just bury him there. That was where I was born, and it was also the place where I should have returned to..."

And I can finally leave this cage that makes her so depressed.

Yan Yiming slowly closed her eyes, the blood on her lips stained her white collar red, she could no longer utter a word and her heart no longer beat.

Shao Jingyu hugged her tightly in his arms, as if he had lost the most important thing in his life. This man who had never shed a tear, now cried bitterly while holding the body of his beloved, no longer having the spirit and pride of a great general.

We are separated forever, and from now on, only separation remains.