Chapter 79 Find a man to relieve your boredom
Everyone blushed and retreated outside the tent. Lu Jinlan got up to change her clothes.
Xiao Heng sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, looking rather embarrassed. "Do you want me to explain for you?"
Lu Jinlan glanced at him. "No need. But if you want to explain yourself, go ahead. Just put your clothes on."
Xiao Heng pursed his lips and muttered, "Anyway, I'll be yours sooner or later, so what do I have to explain?"
Lu Jinlan glared at him, then said nothing more.
The people outside the tent were all awkwardly talking to Lu Jinlan through the tent flap.
Xiang Ruzhen: "Jinlan, the imperial decree has been issued. His Majesty has appointed you as General Zhenbei."
Yan Wuxin laughed and said, "Jinlan, your title of General Zhenbei is a high-ranking general of the third rank. Ordinary generals of miscellaneous ranks can't compare to you. You should think about how we should celebrate this joyous occasion."
The generals of the Huachao dynasty were strictly ranked, with only generals with repeated titles being permanent generals.
There are sixteen generals with honorary titles, and the first one is the first-rank general – Tiger General Song Jingxiao.
The remaining ranks include the second-rank General of the Cavalry, the General of the Chariots, and the General of the Guards, as well as the second-rank Four Generals, namely the General of the Front, the General of the Rear, the General of the Left, and the General of the Right.
The third-rank generals were the Four Expeditionary Generals and the Four Garrison Generals, namely the Expeditionary Generals of the East, West, South, and North, and the Garrison Generals of the East, West, South, and North.
Chu Yishu said enviously, "Those who can be granted the title of general in our Hua Kingdom are all outstanding military heroes with remarkable achievements. You, Lu Jinlan, were granted this title at the age of seventeen, making you the first person in history to do so! Oh, you are so lucky."
Sun Lewen glanced at her and said, "Envious? Next time you go and stab a hole in Xiao Chengying, and you can become a general too."
As they spoke, Lu Jinlan dressed herself, washed her face, and came out to ask Xiang Yan and the other man, "And you two?"
Xiang Ruzhen said, "His Majesty appointed me as General Who Pacifies the Barbarians and Wu Xin as General Who Destroys the Barbarians."
Yan Wuxin said, "Although we are only fourth-rank miscellaneous generals, and will most likely be dismissed after the war, I still feel extremely honored. The imperial edict praised us for our bravery in battle and great achievements, and we have certainly made a name for ourselves. When we return to the capital, I wonder what my mother will have to say."
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "Okay, let's celebrate together later."
As Lu Jinlan spoke, she headed towards the commander's tent. Yan Wuxin caught up with her and grabbed her, giving her a wink as she looked into the tent. "Don't forget that the commander is still your mother-in-law. How could you end up in bed with a man in her army?"
Lu Jinlan said helplessly, "It's a long story. This young master is called Xiao Heng. I've met him twice before. Yesterday, he insisted on coming back with me. I thought that although our army is well-disciplined and nothing too bad would happen, he would inevitably be taken advantage of. So I brought him back to my tent."
"As for the rest... would you believe me if I said I didn't sleep with him at all?"
Yan Wuxin's eyes lit up. "I believe you! You didn't sleep well, did you? Sleeping would only cause you trouble, with issues in Qu Kingdom and with your mother-in-law. Since you didn't sleep with him, why don't you move him somewhere else and lock him in my tent? How about that?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and looked up at her. "Don't you like petite, dependent women? Xiao Heng doesn't seem to fit your aesthetic."
Yan Wuxin chuckled, "Aesthetic tastes aren't static. I haven't even taken in a young man from Qu Kingdom yet. Besides, in this wretched place, even the mosquitoes are female. It's not easy to find a handsome man, so why be picky?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and rolled her eyes at her, "I'll go see the Marshal first, and we'll talk when I get back."
*
Lu Jinlan walked to the outside of the command tent and was about to go in when she suddenly heard someone inside mention her.
"There is something about General Lu that I would like to report to the Commander-in-Chief."
Lu Jinlan paused, withdrew her hand from lifting the curtain, and decided to wait a moment.
The guards on either side hesitated whether to announce the news, exchanged glances, and dared not utter a sound.
Ultimately, this is a family matter, and outsiders won't benefit from meddling.
Lu Jinlan heard Song Jingxiao ask, "What is it?"
The strategist Wen Ji said, "Last night, someone scouted the camp. The three young generals chased after them and brought back a man."
"A man? What's the use of catching a man?"
"He is said to be the young master of Qu Kingdom, and this man stayed in General Lu's tent last night."
Song Jingxiao smiled knowingly, "Oh, so that's what you wanted to say. Although Lan'er is young, she is sensible in her actions, and she naturally has her reasons for doing so."
"Even if we take a step back and say there's something to it, it's not worth mentioning. It's just a plaything. Military campaigns are tedious and boring, and young people are full of vigor. It's not a big deal to find a man to relieve their boredom."
"We've both been through this before, there's no need to make a fuss."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jinlan curled the corners of her lips and called out loudly, "Mother Commander, your son requests an audience."
Song Jingxiao: "Come in."
Lu Jinlan strode in, "The strategist is here too? There's something I'd like to ask both the commander-in-chief and the strategist."
"Last night we captured the young prince of Qu who came to scout our camp. I think we can exchange him for some horses and provisions, but I don't know how much would be appropriate. I'll trouble the strategist to consider the amount and draft a letter, which I will send to Chizhou City. If the commander-in-chief has no other arrangements, I will release Xiao Heng once the goods arrive."
Song Jingxiao nodded and said, "I don't have any arrangements. Whether the things arrive or not, the person should be released. A strong woman should stand tall and not make things difficult for a mere man. You are now the General of the North, so you can make your own decisions on such matters. You don't need to ask me."
As Song Jingxiao spoke, she handed the imperial edict to Lu Jinlan, who quickly replied, "What the Mother General says is true."
Wen Ji was drafting a letter when Song Jingxiao gestured for Lu Jinlan to sit down. "I called you here because I wanted you to see the imperial edict and share your views on the current situation."
Lu Jinlan asked in surprise, "The imperial edict says that I can mobilize 50,000 troops at Prison Dragon Pass starting today. What does this mean?"
Song Jingxiao pushed the golden seal of the General Who Guards the North, sent from the capital, in front of Lu Jinlan and asked with a smile, "What do you think it means?"
"His Majesty gave me 50,000 troops, but... these 50,000 troops are the Ling family army! Even His Majesty himself can't command the Ling family army, and he's handing them over to me? What's the difference between that and not handing them over at all? Isn't it just giving me a title? In the end, people who are going to disobey me will still disobey me. People who are going to disobey me will still disobey me."
Song Jingxiao said, "That's right. The Emperor is throwing a hot potato at you and letting you try to take it by your own ability. If you succeed, it's yours; if you fail, it's probably within her expectations."
Lu Jinlan sighed, "If it weren't wartime, I could find a way to slowly win over these 50,000 people. But now that we're at war, it's almost impossible to get the Ling family army, who have a grudge against me, to fight for me in a short period of time."
"Moreover, I don't know if I'm overthinking it, but I always feel that something is wrong with this war." "Qu State used to be a friendly country with us, but suddenly it changed its behavior and invaded our border at the same time as Jiang State. It was obviously planned. They formed an alliance, but what is more terrifying than the alliance between the two countries is the series of defeats suffered by the Ling family army."
"Although I have no evidence, I really suspect that the Marquis of Dingbei is colluding with the enemy. Otherwise, how could she have lost so badly with her 400,000 troops?"
Song Jingxiao looked at Wen Ji with a smile in her eyes and said proudly, "How about it? Our General Zhenbei may be young, but he is quite knowledgeable, isn't he?"
Wen Ji cupped her hands and said, "General Lu has the demeanor of the Commander-in-Chief in his youth, which has broadened my horizons. General Lu is right. Fortunately, the Commander-in-Chief had the foresight to transfer the 100,000 Ling family troops that had come under our control from the Beizhou camp in advance and merge them with the Song family troops. Otherwise, the number of defeated soldiers today would probably not be 400,000, but 500,000."
Song Jingxiao sighed and said to Lu Jinlan, "It's not that you're overthinking it; what you suspect is what I suspect too. I think the Emperor also has this suspicion. Otherwise, why would she be in such a hurry to bring all the students from the Royal Academy to the battlefield? Replenishing officers is just the surface intention; there's a deeper meaning behind it. You might as well try to guess."
Wen Ji hurriedly said, "General, this question is too difficult. Only someone as knowledgeable about the Emperor as you could come up with it. Even those of us who specialize in studying current affairs cannot see through His Majesty's intentions. General Lu is still a young student; she has never even met His Majesty. How could she possibly guess?"
Song Jingxiao shook her head, "It won't hurt to let her try to think about it."
"A deeper meaning?" Lu Jinlan murmured, "Half of my classmates and seniors are daughters of noble families and officials. What deeper meaning could sending them to the battlefield have for the emperor or the overall situation? Besides, what if someone sacrifices their life..."
Lu Jinlan suddenly stopped talking, a thought she had never had before welled up in her mind.
Song Jingxiao quickly asked, "What did you think of?"
Lu Jinlan said in disbelief, "Is His Majesty planning this in advance? If our suspicions are correct, once the truth of the war is revealed, the families of the martyrs will hold the Marquis of Dingbei responsible. If that's the case, then when His Majesty thoroughly purges the Ling family, those people will stand by His Majesty's side without hesitation."
Wen Ji was greatly shocked. "General Lu, how did you come up with this idea? You truly deserve to be called a top scholar. I am an old woman who has seen a lot, but I have never seen any young general who can see through the Emperor's intentions. I admire you."
Lu Jinlan quickly replied, "Strategist, you flatter me."
Song Jingxiao said proudly, "That's why I say, the younger generation is truly formidable. Lan'er, I'm relieved that you can think of these things. I was always worried that you were too young and impetuous, and might not understand the Emperor's intentions, and might easily offend His Majesty. But you've never even met the Emperor, yet you can understand His Majesty's profound meaning, so I can put my worries aside."
Lu Jinlan frowned and said, "I can guess her intentions, but I still don't understand her actions. So, she had already anticipated that the Ling family army would suffer repeated defeats."
"This war is a power struggle between the Emperor and the Marquis of Dingbei. But what about the tens of thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives? Were they just victims of a political game?"
Song Jingxiao pressed down on her wrist. "Keep your voice down. It's fine to say these things in front of me and the strategist, but don't mention a word of them to outsiders."
Wen Ji also advised, "Although we are far away on the border, we are just as aware of the changes in the capital. Since Grand Commandant Ling Zhichong died under mysterious circumstances, the struggle between the Emperor and the Marquis of Dingbei has been almost out in the open."
“Treason is a serious crime. Marquis Dingbei’s actions are a desperate gamble, and the Emperor will naturally have to take a huge risk as well. Marquis Dingbei wants the Emperor to show weakness first and rely on the Ling family again. But the Emperor wants to use this to weaken the Ling family’s army and completely rewrite the situation. Such a big operation cannot be without sacrifices.”
"General Lu, there is no need for grief and indignation. Judging from the Emperor's decree, she wants to use your intervention to curb the situation. Your most important task right now is to plan for yourself."
Lu Jinlan sighed, "Yes, the Emperor wants to use me as a pawn. If I don't think of a way, I'll be the next victim."
Song Jingxiao analyzed, "The Ling family army has suffered defeat after defeat, and the Jiang Kingdom's army has already invaded more than 120 miles of the northern border. Qiulong Pass is the last barrier outside Beizhou City. His Majesty has probably already realized that they will probably have to retreat to Qiulong Pass in the next battle. And in the next battle after that, they will have to retreat to Beizhou City."
“If the defeat continues, and Beizhou City falls, hundreds of thousands of people in the city will suffer. From a strategic perspective, someone should be sent to defend Qiulong Pass. If it were someone else, I would let her try. But if it were you, I would never let you go.”
"The wording of the imperial edict is subtle. It says 'can be transferred' instead of 'immediately transferred.' The emperor didn't ask you to go to guard the Prisoner Dragon Pass immediately. She probably guessed that I didn't want you to go. Since it's optional, then don't go. With me here, no one can make you go and lose your life."
Lu Jinlan was taken aback. "What about the people of Beizhou?"
"Let's talk about it later. The Ling family army hasn't retreated to Beizhou City yet, has it? Let's discuss it later."
*
Lu Jinlan temporarily put aside her troubled thoughts and had a simple celebratory meal and drinks with Xiang Ruzhen, Yan Wuxin and others.
She returned to her tent and saw Xiao Heng sitting there with a basin of water, washing her clothes.
Lu Jinlan: "What are you doing?"
"Washing clothes!" Xiao Heng said, "Uncle Cai, who does laundry, gave me the washboard and soap pod. He also taught me how to wash clothes. I just washed your nightgown. Although it was the first time I'd ever washed one, look how clean it is!"
He proudly held up the clothes in his hand, showing them to Lu Jinlan with great enthusiasm.
Seeing him splashing around, soaking wet, Lu Jinlan licked her lips and asked with a smile, "Did you come here to be a prisoner or a laundry worker?"
Xiao Heng retorted, "Didn't you say I only know how to argue and make trouble? You said all your husbands are wonderful—some are smart and virtuous, some are gentle and considerate, and some are innocent and charming. I don't understand, what's so difficult about that? I can be gentle, considerate, innocent, and charming too. Look at me, am I not virtuous?"
Lu Jinlan was speechless and silently took a book to the couch to read.
A short while later, Yan Wuxin came over for a visit. As soon as he entered, he stepped onto the water and exclaimed, "Ouch!" He then exclaimed in surprise, "My goodness, is there a flood here?"
Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "Someone said they wanted to do laundry, but I don't know if they want to do laundry or play in the water and mud."
Xiao Heng blushed. "How could there be no water when washing clothes? Everyone washes clothes this way; it's normal to spill some water. You women don't wash clothes, so how would you know how difficult it is?"
Yan Wuxin chuckled twice and went to whisper in Lu Jinlan's ear.
She whispered, "Look what he's made of your place. If I take him away, won't you be relieved of your worries?"
Lu Jinlan glanced at her. "Go ask him. I don't care."
Yan Wuxin was overjoyed. He chuckled and walked around the 'river and stream' on the ground, squatted down next to Xiao Heng, and asked with great concern, "Young master, are you tired from washing clothes?"
Xiao Heng glanced at her warily. "I'm not tired. Thank you for your concern, General Yan."
Yan Wuxin laughed and said, "Look at you, you still have to wash clothes here. Why don't you come to my tent? I guarantee you won't have to do anything."
Xiao Heng glanced at Lu Jinlan and said, "No need. I'm a domestic woman, and I enjoy doing laundry."
"Really?" Yan Wuxin was a little surprised, but then quickly said, "That's fine too. I have a lot of dirty clothes there, enough for you to wash for a few days. Come with me."
Xiao Heng shook his head repeatedly, "I'm not going."
"Why? Let me tell you, if you come to me, I can protect you. Otherwise, it's too dangerous for a man like you to be in the army."
Xiao Heng shook his head again, "General Lu will protect me, I'm not in any danger here. On the contrary, it's you who makes me feel quite dangerous."
Lu Jinlan, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, couldn't help but chuckle.
“You…” Yan Wuxin gritted his teeth and said to Xiao Heng, “Go ahead and wash, you’ll be exhausted. I shouldn’t have felt sorry for you, hmph.”
Yan Wuxin rolled her eyes and stormed off. Xiao Heng turned around and saw Lu Jinlan with the book over her head, laughing so hard she was shaking.
He secretly curled the corners of his lips and said smugly, "Making you happy is one of my skills, right?"
Lu Jinlan smiled without saying a word. She thought it was good that he had something to do, at least he wouldn't bother her or cause trouble.
When she returned from training the troops, she found that Xiao Heng had not only washed a large basin of clothes, but also cleaned the tent inside and out.
He polished her armor until it gleamed, then smiled and showed off his achievement, "Look! I polished it."
That night, Lu Jinlan didn't ask him to sleep on the couch again. He obediently lay down on the side of the bed and finally stopped talking.
Of course, it's also possible that he exhausted himself and fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
*
The message has already reached Chizhou City, and Lu Jinlan estimates that in three to five days, the Qu Kingdom will come to ransom the people.
As they lived and ate together, they gradually became familiar with each other. Whether it was because Xiao Heng was too good at pretending to be virtuous and considerate, or because Lu Jinlan finally found him agreeable, their relationship became increasingly harmonious.
On this day, Lu Jinlan was leading his troops in drills when Kong Luan came to report, "General, today is the day for scouting the camp. My husband has brought some wine and dishes to scout the camp, and we have prepared a special portion for you."
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "You two are too kind. Take the things to my tent and go keep him company. I'll go see him later when I have some free time."
Kong Luan smiled and agreed, then took Thirteen and delivered the items over.
Coincidentally, Xiao Heng was in the tent. Thirteen was a straightforward and guileless person. Xiao Heng had been holding back for days and was happy to meet a brother of the same age. The two started talking as soon as they met.
From "How did you hurt your hand?" to "How come you're living with General Lu?", the two chatted for a while, almost revealing their entire family history.
After listening for a while, Kong Luan noticed that their conversation was becoming increasingly private, so she went outside the tent to let the men chat freely.
Before long, their conversation had shifted from their own experiences to how to do laundry, cook, and make beds.
Speaking of the bed, Thirteen couldn't help but say ambiguously, "I really envy you. General Lu can keep you in her tent. Unlike me, since the war started, I can only see my wife once every ten days or half a month. You, my little brother, don't know the bitterness of being alone in an empty room."
Xiao Heng sighed, "How could I not understand? I'm practically alone now, she doesn't even touch me."
Thirteen exclaimed in surprise, "How could that be? When General Lu was with my seventh brother, she was practically a lecherous monster."
Xiao Heng lowered his eyes in frustration. "No matter how hard I try, I can't compare to your seventh brother, or any of her men. She's not interested in me."
Thirteen thought for a moment, "She's not interested in you, but you can take the initiative. Everyone in the capital knows that Lu Jinlan likes proactive men, haven't you heard?"
Xiao Heng said awkwardly, "I... how can I take the initiative? Her martial arts are so high, and I can't win against her."
Thirteen clicked his tongue. "How come you're even dumber than me? This isn't a martial arts competition. What does it have to do with skill level? You have to seduce her, provoke her, and make her feel good first. Then it'll all fall into place naturally."
Xiao Heng was stunned. "How...how can I serve her? I wash her clothes and clean her room every day. I help her change clothes and put on her shoes. I've done everything I can think of. What else could I possibly serve her for?"
Thirteen said speechlessly, "I'm not talking about serving you like that, I'm talking about serving you in bed."
"In bed? But even in bed she stays far away from me. She says she doesn't like me."
"Are you stupid? Why don't you put in the effort to make her like you? When my wife first met me, she was also cold and ruthless. She said she didn't want to get married, didn't want to be a burden to me, and made up a bunch of reasons to reject me."
Xiao Heng hurriedly asked, "And then what?"
"Then I cried, and I held her tightly and wouldn't let go. I said I would marry no one but her. She saw how pitiful I was crying and softened."
Xiao Heng nodded thoughtfully. "I don't like to cry, and I don't know if I can cry. After I'm done crying, how should I take care of you?"
Thirteen's face flushed. "Oh dear, how am I supposed to explain this? It's just a matter of... using my words."
Xiao Heng stared blankly at her, then shook his head in bewilderment.
Thirteen chuckled, "Think about it, when we men get pregnant and our bodies become inconvenient, we naturally have to think of other ways to serve our wives. You're not married, so you don't know, but once you're married, you'll know it without being taught."
Xiao Heng said sincerely, "I now wish to become your disciple. Please tell me now."
Thirteen hesitated for a moment, then said, "Come closer, I'll tell you in secret."
When Lu Jinlan lifted the curtain and came in, the two were chatting animatedly, their faces flushed. Upon seeing her enter, they immediately stopped talking and turned their faces away guiltily.
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "You guys talk, don't mind me."
Xiao Heng shook his head repeatedly, and Thirteen hurriedly knelt down to pay his respects, "General Lu, Thirteen has finally seen his family again."
Lu Jinlan hurriedly said, "You're pregnant, get up quickly. Kong Luan said you specially brought me some food today. You need to take care of your pregnancy, so don't overwork yourself next time."
As Lu Jinlan spoke, she took out some ginseng and bird's nest from the cabinet. "These are tonics I brought from home. I don't need them. You can take them back and nourish your body."
Thirteen thanked them, then looked at Xiao Heng, "Then I won't bother you any longer. I'll go keep my wife company first, and I'll come back to say goodbye when I leave."
Seeing Thirteen's smiling face, Lu Jinlan couldn't help but ask curiously, "What did you two talk about?"
"It's nothing, Thirteenth Brother just taught me a few things."
Thirteenth Brother? Lu Jinlan frowned. "He can't even read a single word. What can he teach you?"
Xiao Heng chuckled, "Many things don't require literacy. He just taught me how to wash clothes quickly, how to cook delicious meals, and some things about being a good husband..."
He spoke the last few words very softly, and Lu Jinlan didn't pay attention.
That night, the two went to bed as usual.
Lu Jinlan had just closed her eyes when she suddenly heard Xiao Heng crying.
In the darkness, Lu Jinlan asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Six days of updates a day, making up for yesterday's word count! Celebrating finally surpassing 3,000 favorites, thank you all! I had a change of heart and decided to set a fixed update time from now on, so everyone doesn't have to wait so long. When does everyone read? Morning, noon, or evening—what's the best time?
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