Chapter 72 Southern Jiangxi 3 "Impersonating an Imperial Official?"

The light and shadow danced.

Cui Ying sat on an overturned wooden bucket, holding a large, half-eaten sheep bone, and was wolfing it down with relish.

Fine beads of sweat, mixed with the deliberately applied black ash on her face, trickled down her cheeks. Disliking the sweat on her face, she casually wiped it away, rubbing the ash off with the back of her hand, revealing a small patch of delicate, jade-like white skin.

Her men's clothing was soaked with mud and sweat, its original color no longer recognizable. It clung tightly to her body, outlining her slender figure. Her ponytail was so askew that it almost came undone, with a few strands of mud-stained hair sticking to her sweaty neck and cheeks.

Xiao Qiyu stood opposite her, leaning against the desk, arms crossed, staring straight at her.

From the moment he pulled Cui Ying out of the prison barracks to the moment he brought her into his own tent, he was in a daze.

Only now, watching Cui Ying devour meat in front of him, did he become certain that it really was Cui Ying.

It's not a dream, it's Cui Ying.

"Cough cough..." Cui Ying ate too quickly and choked, coughing and her face was covered in tears.

Xiao Qiyu's gaze was still fixed on her when he deftly poured tea and handed it to her.

Cui Ying took the teacup, drank a few sips of water, looked up at Xiao Qiyu, her almond-shaped eyes moist and red, blinked, and with that unrestrained sitting posture, stretched out her greasy hand to him, saying matter-of-factly: "It's a bit greasy, have a clove of pickled garlic."

Xiao Qiyu raised an eyebrow, his tone unfriendly: "In this desolate wilderness, we're lucky to have anything to eat, let alone pickled garlic."

Cui Ying pursed her lips, didn't refute, lowered her head, and continued to gnaw on the lamb bone in her hand.

Xiao Qiyu remained silent, gave her a deep look, then suddenly turned around and walked out of the military tent without saying a word.

Not long after, the curtain was lifted again.

Xiao Qiyu returned, carrying the chill of the mountains. He walked up to Cui Ying, opened his palm, and handed her a small handful of freshly washed, still-damp green vegetables, with tiny white flower buds at the top.

Cui Ying looked up in confusion, her nose still glistening with oil: "What is this?"

“Wild mountain leeks,” Xiao Qiyu said calmly, “the flowers growing on them are leek blossoms. Chewing them can cleanse the palate and is more refreshing than garlic.”

Cui Ying took it with some skepticism, picked a small chive blossom, put it in her mouth, and chewed it.

A strange and intense spiciness burst in my mouth, instantly dispelling the greasiness of the mutton.

Cui Ying's eyes lit up, and she couldn't resist picking a few more flowers to chew on. She also took a bite of mutton, and the rich aroma of meat and the spicy aroma of chives blended together, which invigorated her and made her appetite return.

While happily filling her stomach, she looked up at Xiao Qiyu, swallowed a mouthful of mutton, and said, "I really can't believe that you, a young master who never lifts a finger in the kitchen, can recognize these kinds of wild plants after just one trip, and even know their taste. Didn't you used to hate pungent things like onions, ginger, leeks, and garlic?"

Xiao Qiyu did not answer her question. His phoenix eyes were calm as he silently watched her finish the last bit of mutton.

Inside the tent, only the faint crackling of the burning lamp wick and Cui Ying's gradually quieting chewing sounds remained.

When she finally stopped, Xiao Qiyu spoke, his voice calm and even: "Are you full?"

Cui Ying nodded with great satisfaction, her eyes narrowing into slits, unusually obedient: "I'm full."

Xiao Qiyu then asked, "Have you found your man?"

Cui Ying: "..."

Is he targeting her?

Cui Ying glared at him, wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth with her already dirty sleeve, and muttered, "Stop being sarcastic. How am I supposed to know if you're using your real name or an alias? What if you call yourself Zhang San, Li Si, or Wang Ermazi here, and I call you out without thinking? Wouldn't that be like selling you out?"

"Is this the time to care whether my name is Zhang San or Li Si?"

Xiao Qiyu frowned, then suddenly took two steps forward, closing in on Cui Ying. His tall, elegant figure cast a shadow that instantly enveloped Cui Ying.

"Who gave you the guts?" Xiao Qiyu's breathing quickened, the veins on his forearms throbbing slightly, but his expression remained calm, only his eyes were frighteningly dark. "Who gave you the courage to come all the way from the capital to here alone?"

"Do you know how many treacherous mountains and rivers this journey is fraught with peril? Do you know how chaotic this region of southern Jiangxi is? Bandits roam freely here; if you stumble upon a shady inn, it could silently take your life. You—"

Xiao Qiyu's urgent voice came to an abrupt halt.

Because Cui Ying threw something into his arms.

Xiao Qiyu caught it subconsciously. It was cold and heavy in his hand. It was a finely crafted bronze waist tag. In the dim firelight, he could clearly see the words and patterns engraved on it.

"What is it?" Xiao Qiyu asked.

"The censor's badge."

Cui Ying clapped his hands, then leisurely crossed his legs, looking smug: "With this, I can openly enter and exit all the official post stations along the way, and be served carefully with good food and drink all the way. Everyone who sees me will have to rush to call me 'Master'."

She tilted her head and gave him a defiant smile: "What are you thinking? I'm not going to let myself suffer in the open like that."

Xiao Qiyu held the waist token in his hand, which was still slightly warm and carried the lingering warmth of Cui Ying's body, and unconsciously stroked the patterns on it with his fingertips.

He felt a chill rise from his feet to the top of his head, more biting than the night wind outside the tent.

Swallowing hard, Xiao Qiyu practically forced the words out through clenched teeth, suppressing his voice as he asked, "Where did you come from?"

Cui Ying swung her toes, completely at ease, and was chewing on some chive blossoms in her mouth: "I took them from Qian Peng."

"Take it?" Xiao Qiyu's brow twitched, clearly not believing her nonsense.

“Yeah,” Cui Ying raised her chin, “I just did it on a whim.”

I just grabbed the waist tag and kicked him twice more.

Xiao Qiyu was so angry at these words that he laughed.

As the laughter subsided, his face darkened, his features, already roughened by the winds and frosts of southern Jiangxi, became even more aloof and serious, his delicate and sharp features exuding a murderous aura.

"Not only did you disregard your own safety and leave the capital without permission, but you also traveled thousands of miles to this chaotic and war-torn place." Xiao Qiyu bent down, getting closer and closer to Cui Ying's face. Their eyes met, and Xiao Qiyu's eyes seemed to burn with two flames. Every word he spoke was frost-covered and snow-like.

"You dare to steal the censor's badge and impersonate an official of the imperial court?"

Xiao Qiyu's chest heaved violently, a mix of surprise, lingering fear, and terror welling up inside him. His eyes were fixed on her, and finally he managed to squeeze out a cold sentence: "Cui Ying, do you know that you have committed a crime punishable by death?"

Cui Ying looked up and met his gaze. Her amber eyes were spotless and shone brightly in the dim light.

“I know,” she said, “but I had to come.”

"Why?" Xiao Qiyu pressed, his voice filled with suppressed rage, displaying remarkable restraint.

Cui Ying took a deep breath, her expression serious, and looked directly into his eyes: "I've thought about it, Xiao Qiyu."

“Southern Jiangxi is too dangerous. Swords have no eyes, and bandits are ruthless. I shouldn’t have lured you here.”

She paused, her voice lowered, but her eyes became even more determined: "I regret it, so I came here myself to bring you back safely."

Xiao Qiyu was stunned.

Inside the tent, even the faint crackling sound of the lamp wick bursting seemed to have disappeared; it was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

He spoke somewhat slowly, as if he thought he had misheard, his expression filled with uncertain suspicion: "You risked your life to travel thousands of miles here, just to take me back?"

"What's wrong?" Cui Ying raised his chin, full of pride. "I caused this mess, so naturally I should clean it up. I'll take responsibility for my own actions!"

Xiao Qiyu remained silent.

He looked at her clothes, stained with dirt, and disheveled hair. The raging anger in his chest seemed to be extinguished by a sudden spring rain, leaving only a damp helplessness and an indescribable, aching emotion.

Xiao Qiyu sighed, his anger completely subsided, and reached out to pinch Cui Ying's face, scolding in a low voice, "Cui Ying, are you stupid?"

Cui Ying slapped his hand, her eyes wide with protest: "Just talk, why are you hitting me? Let go of me!"

Xiao Qiyu not only didn't loosen his grip, but he also increased it, getting the dust off Cui Ying's face onto his own hands, but he didn't seem to mind and wouldn't let go no matter what.

"I'll bite you if you don't let go!"

"Hurry up, I beg you to bite me."

The flickering lamplight cast overlapping shadows of the two bickering figures on the tent.

...

After fussing until the wee hours of the morning, Cui Ying quickly washed her hair with hot water, wiped her body, and changed into Xiao Qiyu's clean undergarments.

The man's clothes were too big for her; the cuffs were rolled up several times to barely reveal her fair wrists.

She was so exhausted that she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the cot. Her breathing was even and deep, and her face had a faint blush from eating and drinking her fill. Her long eyelashes rose and fell with her breath.

Xiao Qiyu stood by the bed, looked at her for a moment, then bent down and gently put her exposed forearm back into the quilt, tucking the corner of the quilt in, leaving only her rosy face exposed.

After he finished, he picked up the basin of her dirty clothes and quietly lifted the curtain to go out.

The night was cool and still, and a chill swept over us.

Xiao Qiyu went outside and whispered to the guards standing on both sides: "Keep a close watch and don't let anyone go in to disturb us."

The soldier accepted the order in a low voice.

He took two steps and then encountered Chen Fengnian, who was patrolling the camp.

Chen Fengnian glanced at the tightly closed tent curtains and lowered his voice solemnly, "Is the new ancestor inside asleep?"

Xiao Qiyu nodded.

Chen Fengnian shook his head and clicked his tongue: "You and this Miss Cui are indeed a couple. You are equally bold. No, she is probably even bolder than you. A weak woman traveling thousands of miles alone to find her husband, that courage is admirable!"

Xiao Qiyu's face remained expressionless, and he simply said, "Admiration for what? It's a headache that's real."

Chen Fengnian gave a wry smile, thinking to himself that she wasn't the only one giving him a headache. His gaze fell on the basin that Xiao Qiyu was carrying: "What are you doing here?"

"Go to the stream and wash her dirty clothes," Xiao Qiyu said.

"There's no need for you to do such a small thing yourself. Just tell the brothers in the logistics battalion to wash it for you." Chen Fengnian said, and naturally reached out to grab the wooden basin.

Xiao Qiyu slightly turned her body, subtly avoiding his hand, and said calmly, "There's no need to trouble the logistics battalion; I can handle it myself."

Chen Fengnian stopped insisting and watched as Xiao Qiyu set off for the stream.

Watching Xiao Qiyu's hands-on figure, Chen Fengnian was about to praise him when he glanced at the tent and belatedly realized what was going on.

He said there was no need to trouble himself, but he still sent his own clothes to the logistics battalion to be washed quite a few times. Was he trying to prevent other men from handling his wife's clothes?

I can't tell.

This young man is aloof and reserved all day long, but he has a very strong possessive streak.

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Author's note: I really wanted to explain to everyone why I stopped updating, but it was such a bad thing that I didn't want to leave you with any psychological trauma.

I can only say that maybe even God couldn't bear to watch anymore and used a somewhat cruel method to force me to grow. I lost five pounds in three days, a weight I couldn't lose for six months. I sought psychological counseling and recovered from the trauma in just two days. I am stronger than I imagined, and every day from now on, I will be self-repairing.

Just as Scarlett O'Hara won't be defeated as long as she has Tara, as long as I can keep writing, there's nothing I can't overcome. Updates will continue as usual. If I take another break, it's probably just laziness; I'll keep moving forward. [fireworks]