"Miss Yan Ning, please let me go." Zhao Xing clung tightly to the clothes in his hands, refusing to let go. "Just let me wash them, they stink so badly they could kill someone." Yan Ning and Zhao Xing wrestled over the clothes.

"Then I'll wash myself, I'll wash right away!" Zhao Xing limped out. "But you can't do these things right now!" Yan Ning stopped Zhao Xing.

"Miss Yan Ning, if the general finds out, this servant's backside will be bruised and battered again." Zhao Xing looked at Yan Ning pitifully.

Upon hearing Zhao Xing mention Fukang'an, Yan Ning let go of his hand. Given Fukang'an's personality, Zhao Xing's words would likely come true. Seeing that Yan Ning had let go, Zhao Xing limped back and sat down with her.

"Miss Yan Ning, please let me go." Zhao Xing clung tightly to the clothes in his hands, refusing to let go.

"Just let me wash them, the clothes smell so bad they could kill someone." Yan Ning and Zhao Xing wrestled over the dirty clothes he had piled up in the corner.

"Then I'll wash myself, right away!" Zhao Xing limped out.

"But you can't do these things right now!" Yan Ning stretched out her arms to block Zhao Xing.

"Miss Yan Ning, if the general finds out, this servant's backside will be bruised and battered again." Zhao Xing looked at Yan Ning pitifully.

Upon hearing Zhao Xing mention Fukang'an, Yan Ning let go of his hand and returned to the table to sit down. Given Fukang'an's personality, what Zhao Xing said would likely come true. Seeing that Yan Ning was no longer stopping him, Zhao Xing limped back and sat down with her.

Yan Ning interlaced her fingers, resting her chin on them. Her face, as delicate as a peach blossom, was accentuated by her pearl-white cheongsam. She murmured, "What kind of person is your general?" She thought of what Fukang'an had said to her the day Zhao Xing was punished.

"My general is a man of both literary and military talent. He was brought into the palace by the current emperor for education from a young age, entered the Grand Council at the age of eighteen, and is now a general. Hehe..." Zhao Xing was filled with pride when he mentioned Fukang'an, and his voice, which had been somewhat childish, became much louder.

"So what if he's a general? He's still a tyrannical and selfish one." Yan Ning felt a surge of anger when she thought of what Fukang'an had said to her, and her face, which she held in her hands, turned cold.

“What are you saying, young lady? My general has always shared weal and woe with his soldiers.” Hearing Yan Ning speak of his general in this way, Zhao Xing was displeased and pouted as he secretly stuffed his dirty clothes back into place.

Yan Ning lowered her eyes, lost in thought. Fukang'an was indeed a good general! But he was too self-centered and too arbitrary!

After leaving Zhao Xing's place, Yan Ning unknowingly walked to the military council tent. The guards at the door did not stop her, presumably because Fukang'an had instructed them. She went inside and saw Fukang'an with his head propped up by his hand, seemingly fast asleep.

Fukang'an had been studying military books for several days, feeling exhausted and half-asleep. He sensed a woman's footsteps approaching and guessed it was Yan Ning. He then pretended to fall asleep.

Several books were scattered on the table, all written in classical Chinese characters. Fortunately, Yan Ning had a strong literary background and could vaguely guess what they were. They were probably military strategy books or something similar; he wasn't going to be reading poetry or prose!

Thinking of this, Yan Ning unconsciously took a closer look at the sleeping Fukang'an. His eyebrows were like ink paintings, his nose was like a hanging gall, and his whole person exuded a vigorous and heroic spirit.

Fukang'an switched arms, turning his back to Yan Ning, and smiled.

Yan Ning stared at Fukang'an's retreating figure. She didn't know how she had ended up here. Afraid that Fukang'an would wake up and see her, she quickly left.

"stop!"

Yan Ning was stunned at the entrance of the military tent by this calm and powerful voice, but she didn't know how to face the owner of the voice.

Fukang'an walked to Yan Ning's side, looked at her motionless, and a playful smile appeared on his lips. Seeing Fukang'an's smile, Yan Ning's anger flared up, and she lifted her foot to leave, but he reached out and stopped her.

"I've been too busy these past few days and haven't had a chance to visit you. I was thinking of coming to see you later, but you've come first," Fukang'an said gently, looking down at Yan Ning.

Yan Ning's anger vanished without a trace upon hearing these words, and she stared blankly at him.

Fukang'an had his eyes closed just now, but when he opened them, Yan Ning noticed that his eyes were bloodshot. She felt a pang of heartache, but it wasn't the same heartache she felt for Zhao Xing.

"Did you need something?" Fukang'an pulled Yan Ning down to sit and stared at her.

Yan Ning lowered her head and shook it. "It's nothing."

"I happen to have something to ask you." Seemingly sensing Yan Ning's thoughts, Fukang'an's mood improved considerably, and his tone became lighter.

"What is it?" Yan Ning was startled. Still shaken by their last conversation, she spoke to Fu Kang'an with great caution.

"Rest well today, I'll take you out tomorrow."

Fukang'an helped Yan Ning tidy her flowing, jet-black hair, sighing inwardly that she still preferred to wear her hair down.

"Where to?" Although Yan Ning knew that Fukang'an would not harm her, she did not fully believe in her identity and origins.

“You’ll know when you get there!” Fukang’an said gently, a slight smile playing on his lips.

At night, Yan Ning lay on the hard wooden bed in the military camp, tossing and turning. Fukang'an was intelligent and wise, well-versed in military strategy; everything he did had its reasons. Where would he take her?

Feeling uneasy, Yan Ning left the military tent early in the morning.

Fukang'an, however, was already prepared and waiting for her outside. He was wearing a white round-necked robe with a lotus-gray gauze over it; a dark brown belt was inlaid with a circle of bright pearls at equal intervals, with a jade pendant and a dark blue sachet hanging from it. He exuded a strong sense of wealth and an air of arrogance.

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