Zhan Xinjia's destination was Canghan City, located on the border. Even traveling day and night at full speed from the capital, it would take more than a month to get there. By the time she arrived, it would probably already be winter.
In the still of the night, a campfire burned, and she sat alone in front of it, taking out the letter of appointment from her bosom and examining it again and again by the firelight.
Commandant of the Vanguard...
Zhan Xinjia wasn't really interested in this position; it was a junior officer role, mainly responsible for training and managing the army.
However, this can be considered a good match for one's major.
From the age of seven, she was trained like an animal by her own father!
For her, the intensity of training in the military camp was nothing special; it was still better than her previous life of breaking bones every day and becoming paralyzed every two days. If it weren't for the fact that the secret medicine in the palace was so powerful, she would have been beaten to death and reincarnated long ago.
It's amazing how her father always manages to beat her half to death with just the right amount of force.
The problem is that she's the one being trained and abused, but every time training ends—!
She saw her father hiding in a corner, pretending to cry, and then her mother actually ran over to comfort him with heartache.
If it weren't me, would you be asking?
Who says this green tea is rough? Her dad's green tea is amazing!
This is like stepping out of the protective umbrella of your parents only to find that it wasn't raining at all outside.
Frustrated, Zhan Xinjia put away the letter of appointment, casually poked at the crackling fire with a stick, and sighed again.
Currently, General Qu Zhen is in charge of Canghan City. She is not unfamiliar with this General Qu, after all, he was once her father's old subordinate, and she guessed that General Qu had even held her when she was a child.
It's worth mentioning that this General Qu is the elder brother of the female martial arts master that Qiao Qiao is currently following.
Oh, right!
She brought Qiaoqiao back to the capital, and now that she's gone, she wonders if Qiaoqiao will be angry when she finds out...
"Ah Zhi!"
Suddenly, Qiao Qiao's joyful voice came from behind.
Zhan Xinjia didn't turn around, clicked her tongue, and continued to bury her head in the fire with a twig, her face expressionless.
See, he's hallucinating from feeling guilty.
The thought of Qiao Qiao in this desolate wilderness made her hallucinate and hear her voice—it was terrifying enough. Zhan Xinjia shook her head, trying to clear her mind, but the next moment, a hand landed on her shoulder.
"Ah Zhi?"
The girl in the sporty outfit peeked out from behind Zhan Xinjia's shoulder with a smile.
"Ah Zhi, what are you daydreaming about? I called you several times as I led the horse over, but you didn't notice."
As she spoke, Meng Qiao, whose back ached from traveling, sat down on the other side of the fire and rubbed her stiff lower back.
Suddenly remembering something, she quickly took out a slightly dented oil paper package from her cloth bag and happily handed it to the astonished little girl in front of her.
"Here you go! I heard you like to eat this."
I guessed you left in such a hurry that you only brought some unappetizing dry food, so I thought I'd take a detour to buy you something better. I didn't expect you to be so quick; it took me several days to catch up with you.
"Qiaoqiao!!"
Zhan Xinjia was shocked. "Holy crap! What are you doing here?!"
"Huh? Nobody told you? Hehe, I already begged and pleaded with my master to let me go to Canghan City with you!"
"No, what are you going there for?"
That godforsaken place is bitterly cold year-round, with people constantly hungry and cold. Because it's the first line of defense on the frontier, it's frequently plagued by war and instability. If you want to learn martial arts, wouldn't staying in the capital be the same?"
"But Ah Zhi."
Meng Qiao looked up, her face showing confusion and bewilderment.
"I didn't go to the capital because I wanted to learn martial arts!"
I simply wanted to follow you. As for learning martial arts... it's because I also want to become as powerful as A-Zhi someday.
Hmm... I want to be able to protect you and occasionally help you out.
In short, wherever you are, I'll be there.
Zhan Xinjia: "..."
Zhan Xinjia: "That's very sweet."
What was that saying again? Like being husband and wife...
When she rescued Qiaoqiao, she never expected Qiaoqiao to be so clingy. Although she still didn't approve of Qiaoqiao going to such a dangerous place with her, she was undoubtedly feeling warm inside.
The evening breeze rustled, and the bleakness and loneliness of the autumn night seemed to be dispelled by this warmth, no longer feeling harsh.
Sigh... this situation on the way is not easy to handle. Once we get to Canghan City, she'll just find some excuse to send Qiaoqiao back to the capital.
After receiving the oil paper package, Zhan Xinjia began to sigh again.
"We're here to endure hardship and work like oxen and horses, how can we be so pampered all the time... We're already lucky if we can get some dry rations, but we might not even get any when the fighting gets really bad."
"Yes, I know. But 'later' is for later. At least for now, if I can make you suffer less, I'll be very happy."
Upon hearing Qiao Qiao's words, Zhan Xinjia suddenly froze and looked up in surprise.
In the firelight, a girl in a tight-fitting outfit sat with her knees bent beside the campfire, smiling and resting her chin on her hand. Her eyebrows and eyes were bathed in the light of the flames, her expression resolute yet gentle, her eyes clear and bright.
Zhan Xinjia was no stranger to that kind of gaze; Yan Xiyue and Yan Huishi had always looked at her with that "kind" gaze before…
She really cracked open, and everyone around her acted like a zookeeper.
Is she some kind of chosen pet?
Zhan Xinjia unconsciously uttered a sarcastic remark, which made Meng Qiao laugh even more brightly.
"But a little sister is a little sister for life!"
Meng Qiao found it hard to describe this feeling.
Talking to A-Zhi makes me feel better without even realizing it, and being around A-Zhi makes me feel relaxed and at ease.
It's like even if the sky falls down, it doesn't matter; Azhi will eat the fallen sky like a pancake. Even if the earth shakes, it doesn't matter; Azhi will smile and carry everyone to swing on the swing together.
What are you afraid of? Ah Zhi is here.
On the surface, Azhi is a pampered little sister, carefully protected like a precious porcelain. But when real trouble comes, Azhi is the one who will unhesitatingly stand in front of everyone with her sword drawn.
Meng Qiao suddenly began to understand why His Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Caixia always called Azhi "Sister Bao".
Mei Bao is Mei Bao; everyone who sees her will want to tease her and spoil her.
Most importantly, all the feelings you give her will be reciprocated. Staying by her side, you will never have to be afraid. No matter what happens, she will be the first to bravely stand up and protect you.
Thinking of this, Meng Qiao's expression softened even more.
Despite her best efforts to resist, she couldn't resist the urge and reached out to ruffle the little girl's soft, fluffy hair.
"Hehe, Ah Zhi, we like you!!"
"..."
Ugh, what's going on? It's so sticky!
Zhan Xinjia was very embarrassed; her face started to flush, and her body temperature visibly rose from the tips of her ears all the way down to her neck.
She was like a boiled crab, completely at a loss, sometimes turning over the fire, sometimes pretending to look around at the scenery, and sometimes inexplicably humming an unpleasant tune, pretending to be completely relaxed.
After being "busy" for a while, Zhan Xinjia finally calmed down.
Unwrapping the oil paper package, I found several pieces of slightly deformed white sugar cake wrapped in glutinous rice paper.
Zhan Xinjia opened her eyes wide.
"What's wrong, Ah Zhi?"
A casual question came from beside her ear.
"nothing."
Zhan Xinjia's eyelashes trembled. She broke off half of the cake and handed it to Qiao Qiao across from her. Then she lowered her head and silently ate the white sugar cake.
The white sugar cake that has been baked over a fire is softer, sweeter, and more palatable than cold, hard dry biscuits.
But as she ate, her nose started to sting.
The last time I ate this was probably in a cave on the outskirts of Linshui Village...
well.
Since leaving the capital, she had been deliberately trying to avoid thinking about anything related to Lord Shen. But at this moment, all the emotions that had been building up for so long surged out like a flood bursting its banks.
Today marks the seventh day since she left. What is Lord Shen doing now?
He must be very angry and disappointed...
Zhan Xinjia wasn't worried that Lord Shen would come looking for her.
After all, she had already spoken to Yan Huishi before she left, instructing him to use every means to keep Lord Shen trapped in the capital for the time being, and not to let him leave the capital for at least two years, nor to reveal her whereabouts.
I never imagined that one of my few uses of imperial power would be for this purpose.
But... what about two years later, after the war ends?
Even if she came back then, Lord Shen probably wouldn't pay any attention to her anymore.
Just like in the nightmare, the young civil official was indifferent and cold-eyed. He turned away decisively with a flick of his sleeve, not even sparing her a second glance.
Thinking of this, Zhan Xinjia smiled bitterly.
But there's nothing we can do about it...
Go away, go away, in these chaotic times, let's put aside our romantic feelings for now, lest it affect the speed of her sword strikes.
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