Chapter 1049 Farewell to Comrades

"Stubborn donkey..." Xie Zheng couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Say those two words again. How come they sound so vivid coming from your mouth?"

Song Chunxue was both amused and annoyed. She said irritably, "I'm a farmer, just someone who tills the land. I speak with a thick local accent, so of course it's different from your official jargon. I can't pronounce words as clearly as you."

“I just think it sounds better. Official jargon is too rigid. Yours sounds much better.” Xie Zheng squeezed next to her. “Take the flowers you want. That wild horse doesn’t obey the crowd. Keeping it in the camp is just a waste of supplies.”

"Then take her with you. I like spirited horses anyway; too docile isn't good, there's no future in that." Song Chunxue took a sip of tea. "Want some brown sugar?"

"Yes," he said, his mouth was dry from spending all his time in the military camp. "Do you have rock sugar? I really like rock sugar."

"have."

Song Chunxue took out a jar of rock sugar and handed it to him, saying, "Put it in yourself."

Xie Zheng couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed, it's good to have a caring person by your side. You'll have food and drink, and you won't be lonely."

"Stop coming and talk so much." Perhaps it had been too long since they had seen each other, but Song Chunxue felt uncomfortable with his intimate words.

Although Xie Zheng liked to say such things in front of her, it was naturally surprising.

"After you finish your tea, let's go for a walk," Xie Zheng leaned closer to her. "A general wants to see you. Will you go?"

"See me?" Song Chunxue asked, puzzled. "Why would you want to see me?"

Xie Zheng seemed thoughtful. "I want to know what the person I admire looks like?"

Song Chunxue pushed him away, "Here we go again."

"More importantly, he wanted to see what the legendary Master Song was like."

Song Chunxue put down her teacup. "Do you often talk about me with them?"

Xie Zheng rubbed his hands together with a smile, picked up a pastry, and took a bite.

“Speak up,” Song Chunxue poured the boiling tea into her own teacup, “otherwise there will be no tea to drink.”

"Yes, I often bring it up. It's not just you, but many people around me. Everyone in the military likes to hear new things. Many of them are native farmers, and they are very curious about the local customs and culture."

Xie Zheng said with no small amount of pride, "This is my secret weapon for coaxing my subordinates. Of course, the main point is to mention that you, a woman, only started cultivating in your thirties. You did it unintentionally and yet it turned out to be a success. You made things that others thought were impossible to stick to so casually and naturally."

"..." Lord Xie really knows how to praise people.

“Especially when they’re feeling down and their faces are full of sorrow, talk to them about you. If a woman can do this, how can those young men possibly hold them back?” He stroked his stubble as he spoke. “This trick never fails.”

Judging from his expression, Song Chunxue could imagine how curious his subordinates were about her.

I'll definitely be disappointed if we meet.

It's better to keep it a secret.

We cannot shatter their perfect illusion.

"If I disappear, shall we set off today?" Seeing his expression, Song Chunxue suggested, "How about we stay another night?"

"The outhouse is far away, are you used to it?"

“You live here every day, why can’t I get used to it?”

Xie Zheng was somewhat moved. He grasped her hand and gazed deeply into her eyes, a thousand words welling up within them. He opened his mouth several times but couldn't utter a sound.

This made Song Chunxue very curious.

"Just say what you want to say. Why are you holding back with me?"

He played with her fingers, "I just feel so good to have you by my side. I've missed so much over the years."

"You missed out on romance?" Song Chunxue laughed at him. "Aren't you coming back with me now? Why are you so sentimental? We can spend more time together in the future."

He sat behind her and effortlessly pulled her into his arms.

"What are you doing... Put me down, what if someone comes in?"

Song Chunxue's ears burned instantly. "Watch your words and actions. As long as you're in the military, you're a general."

“But if they still treat you with the utmost respect when they see you now, those brats will start to doubt my abilities,” Xie Zheng said, putting his arm around her. “Don’t worry, no one will come in. I’ve already told them.”

Song Chunxue then gave up struggling.

She was a little embarrassed. "I was hardly ever held like this when I was little. It feels so strange to be held like this now."

"Just relax, there's no one else here. I like you and want to be close to you, it's the most natural thing in the world, don't think too much about it."

Xie Zheng grabbed her arms and made her face him.

“Forget who you used to be. In front of me, you are not Master Song, not someone else’s master or uncle, and certainly not the grandmother of those children. Don’t think about them,” he said very seriously. “In front of me, you are just Ah Xue.”

He spoke with such sincerity and emotion that Song Chunxue couldn't look him in the eye and buried her face in his shoulder.

"Aren't you on a military campaign? How come you're so adept at sweet talk?"

"Because I think of you every moment..."

Song Chunxue raised her hand to cover his mouth and whispered as she hugged him, "I know, I understand. If you say anything more, my face will get red."

“Then let’s not talk about it,” Xie Zheng said gently. “We’ll return to the capital today and become Daoist partners.”

They became Daoist partners.

Song Chunxue nodded, "Okay."

"I've already chosen the date, the eighth day of the fifth month. What do you think?"

"So fast?" It's almost April now, and May 8th won't be long.

"No, I've been waiting for over two years." Xie Zheng looked up. "Trying to back out?"

"No, it's just... a bit too fast. How about we wait until next year?"

"No, this year it has to be."

...

In the afternoon, they led their horses away from the military camp.

Many people came to see her off. Song Chunxue was a little reserved. Most of them were just curious to see what she looked like.

Zhou Huai was leading the stubborn donkey, and before he could hand it over, the stubborn donkey ran over, circled Song Chunxue halfway, and then stood behind her contentedly, its neck resting on Song Chunxue's shoulder.

"..." The horse's neck is so heavy, how can it be so clingy?

"I thought this was a wild horse that no one could tame, but I never expected it to become so shameless. I've been thinking about it for so long."

"Yeah, it kicked me twice back then, and I still have marks on my thigh. It's heartless, a traitor, and it was lured away by a couple of carrots."

"I think this horse has never seen a woman before. Once it leaves the military camp, it will definitely fall in love with someone else."

"Hahaha, brother, he's just a horse. Believe me, Lord Xie will reward you with a sword?"

"Give me a reward, it'll be perfect for taking me back to the capital to recover from my injuries, haha."

Xie Zheng replied, "You wish."

"Lord Xie, I'm speaking from the heart. Why don't you stab me with your sword so I can come to the capital to attend your wedding?"

Xie Zheng turned his head. "That's a good idea. Where should we poke it?"