Chapter 91
"If you're not in a hurry to travel tomorrow, teach me how to ride a horse."
The request wasn't unreasonable, and Lin Yi assumed Jiang Ji wouldn't refuse given his enthusiasm. But then he saw Jiang Ji shake his head in horror, as if he'd heard some terrible news.
"?"
“Madam, it would be better if the Marquis taught you. It’s not appropriate for me to teach you.”
This child is sometimes too tactful, even a little too tactful.
She assumed he was worried that Xie Chengnan would blame her if she got injured while riding. "What's wrong with that? If Xie Chengnan asks, just tell him it was me who insisted on learning from you."
Jiang Ji still shook his head. He still remembered that a few days ago, Young Master Xie was surrounded by an icy chill, and he wouldn't say why no one asked him. Later, he learned from the Crown Prince's guards that he was jealous because his wife had spoken a few words with His Highness the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's guards were deeply resentful of Xie Chengnan's series of disrespectful and arrogant acts towards their prince. Their words were far harsher, striving to portray Xie Chengnan as a paranoid, jealous, and clingy incompetent man. However, Jiang Ji, with his naturally biased view of Xie Chengnan, heard it from the ears of this number one admirer of the Marquis of Yong'an: the Marquis and his wife's love was unbreakable, as solid as a rock.
He is polite and sensible. Intimate things like teaching someone to ride a horse should be considered as small, romantic gestures between couples to enhance their relationship.
Out of loyalty to the Marquis, Jiang Ji felt he should subtly remind the Marquis's wife that it was best for her to refrain from saying things that were detrimental to their relationship, even if she herself was not the one saying them. Although the Marquis probably wouldn't be angry with his wife, he absolutely didn't want to experience the young Marquis Xie's gloomy, overcast face again.
"Madam, did you... have any disagreements with the Marquis recently?" Jiang Ji tried to be as tactful as possible, even though it sounded abrupt and strange.
"No, not really..." If we don't count the two things that caused Xie Chengnan to be angry, namely the cold war at the palace banquet and my meeting with Gu Shuan to get a license plate.
“Then…” Jiang Ji hesitated, the words tumbling over his tongue as if they were burning his tongue, “Then Madam should pay more attention to the Marquis’s… mood, after all, men are also very vulnerable.”
He seemed to have convinced himself, repeating, "The more serious and reliable a man seems in ordinary times, the more vulnerable he is!"
"??"
What's going on here? Lin Yili suspected that Xie Chengnan had been instilling some strange ideas in them from the outside.
Upon receiving news of Xie Chengnan's success, Gu Shu'an finally felt relieved. He ordered the march to be accelerated, eager to see Zhan Xian immediately and keep her under close watch to prevent any further mishaps. He was willing to do anything, even if it meant military power or going to the battlefield!
The group met at Tongguan, rested briefly, and then continued their journey.
Lin Yi's supply train was at the very back and couldn't see what was happening ahead. He only knew that the train stopped briefly before continuing its march.
Although Jiang Ji was ordered to stay by her side, Lin Yi didn't want to hold him back. Recognizing the difference between men and women, Lin Yi would find an excuse to send him back to his original military camp every now and then, as he would lose his soldierly spirit and youthful vigor if he followed her around all day.
Jiang Ji was visibly much happier when he returned, and excitedly told her that the Marquis had returned.
Lin Yi was also happy, but Xie Chengnan had just returned to camp. As the General of the Cavalry, he commanded elite troops and his position was second only to the commander-in-chief. He had too many things to plan and deploy, so he probably wouldn't have time to come and see him.
Just as he was thinking this, Xie Chengnan, dressed in light silver armor, rode up on horseback.
When Lin Yi saw him walking slowly towards him against the marching column, he could clearly feel his heart, which had been calm for several days, now beating wildly with excitement.
Jiang Ji excitedly but restrainedly called out "Lord Marquis" before dismounting, his movements swift as if he had completely forgotten that there was another person on horseback. However, before Lin Yi could even feel the jolting—his hooves had barely lifted when Xie Chengnan pulled on the reins and brought him back down.
With a flash of silver armor, Xie Chengnan was already straddling the horse, reaching out to naturally encircle Lin Yi from behind.
The cool touch of the silver armor mingled with Xie Chengnan's warm breath, emanating continuously from behind, like ice and fire simultaneously scorching Lin Yi. The culprit, however, remained oblivious, his breath growing ever closer.
Did you miss me?
“I’ve thought about it…” Lin Yi was startled and said truthfully.
"Really?" he said, resting his thin chin on Lin Yi's shoulder and neck.
It's a bit uncomfortable. Lin Yi said, "It's fake."
Xie Chengnan chuckled softly, his laughter as low as his voice, "I don't believe it."
Lin Yi let him lean against him for a while, then whispered, "Xie Chengnan... a lot of people are watching."
Such uninhibited intimacy would be eye-catching not only in the military but also on the street.
Xie Chengnan remained unmoved, even secretly tightening his grip on Lin Yi's arm. "Look, they don't have wives. I'm not afraid of people looking."
"..." Lin Yi expressionlessly elbowed backward, hitting the cold soft armor, and the smug young marquis immediately fell silent.
The silence lasted only a moment before Xie Chengnan leaned in again and asked, "Does your elbow hurt? Let me rub it for you?"
"..."
How come she never noticed before that Xie Chengnan was so clingy!
As the commander-in-chief of the three armies and possessing the power of oversight, Gu Shu'an held supreme power and status both in the military and in local affairs. This central and crucial figure only led the army at the forefront within the territory of Mingzhou, when the army had just set out, much like a newly appointed top scholar riding through the long street—to inspire the people and showcase the imperial family's grandeur. At other times, he rode in the middle of the ranks, surrounded by his elite personal guards. Gu Shu'an could coordinate and command the entire operation from his horse.
But eager to see Zhan Xian as soon as possible, he urged his horse on, quickly rising to the front. His trusted guard, who had been walking close to him, hesitated for a moment, but then followed.
Xie Chengnan had already explained the situation in his letter to him, so he showed no surprise when he saw that Zhan Xian was not alone.
Gu Shuan assigned these Tongguan men to the central army, starting them as basic infantrymen. His instructions were clear and concise, and his determination left no room for argument.
When it was Huo Xiao's turn, he paused for a moment and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know how to use a knife?"
Huo Xiao said he would, so Gu Shuan nodded and continued to instruct his personal guards: "Arrange for him to join the Mo Dao Battalion. Find out the household registrations of these people, add them to the military register, and let me see them before evening."
He handles serious matters efficiently and quickly, without any hesitation.
“And—” Gu Shuan paused.
The guards stood at attention, holding their breath, solemnly awaiting the next, more important instructions.
"It's getting cold. Tell the cooks to make some ginger soup to keep you warm. You've all had a long journey, so don't catch a cold and delay your trip."
As he spoke, he didn't give Zhan Xian a single glance. His every move was fair and impartial, displaying the demeanor of a head coach.
The new recruits who had just joined the central army were flattered and couldn't help but sigh that the treatment of the regular army of the imperial court was indeed good, and that His Highness the Crown Prince was indeed a man who loved his soldiers and cared for the people.
Only the guards glanced discreetly at Zhan Xian, who stood silently to the side, deliberately ignored. These people certainly didn't know that they were benefiting from Miss Zhan's presence.
Once all the bystanders had left, Gu Shuan finally looked at Zhan Xian, his gaze filled with helplessness and a barely perceptible hint of caution.
"you……"
"Where does Your Highness intend to place me?"
Gu Shuan swallowed the concern he had originally intended to express about her health, frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "A captain in the Divine Machine Battalion, equivalent to a deputy general."
The Shenji Battalion is specifically responsible for the manufacture and training of firearms and other combat equipment. It cooperates with cavalry and infantry in specific battlefields, and the level of danger is much lower than that of other military branches. The battalion commander, as the top officer, is in the rear, which means that the danger is less and the power is greater. Only by arranging such a position for her can Gu Shuan feel at ease.
But Zhan Xian was clearly not satisfied with this arrangement. "I'm going to the cavalry archery camp."
"In grassland warfare, the mounted archery battalion is the main force, and it will be very tough—"
“That’s precisely why we’re going. Gu Shuan, you know I’m never afraid of hardship, much less any danger.” A mocking smile appeared in his delicate, narrow eyes. “Back then, my archery skills were the best among the young men of Mingzhou, even you couldn’t compare to me.”
Gu Shuan opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
That autumn hunt in the suburbs, she was the only one who excelled. At an age when most women couldn't even hold a bow properly, she could fire two arrows simultaneously, hitting a wild deer a hundred paces away while another pierced the air, piercing a rapidly flying owl. Under the moonlight, the owl's feathers fell like snowflakes. It was that one glance that made Gu Shu'an remember this girl for many years.
"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes. Thank you." With that, she turned to leave.
"Zhan Xian!"
Zhan Xian stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn around. Her voice was indifferent. "Is there anything else?"
"You..." Gu Shuan hadn't thought of what to say, but he knew he had to say something more. Their relationship couldn't always be like this, one watching the other leave.
At times like this, he became angry at himself for not being as unrestrained and outspoken as Xie Chengnan. If he had actually said those things, they wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
Zhan Xian remained with her back to him, waiting for his reply.
He took a deep breath and said, "I will draft a new military order, appointing you as the captain of the cavalry archery battalion, with Shulang as your deputy."
Shulang was originally one of his personal guards, and because he was particularly skilled in riding and archery, he was appointed as the captain of the cavalry and archery battalion for this expedition. Since he had difficulty trusting many of his former subordinates in the army, and this personal expedition was of great importance, Gu Shuan replaced most of the generals and officers in the army with his own confidants.
If Zhan Xian joins the cavalry archery camp, then the position of camp commander should naturally be hers. Making Shu Lang his deputy also has his own selfish reasons, so that if Zhan Xian acts recklessly and takes risks, someone can stop her in time.
Zhan Xian could roughly guess what he was thinking, but she didn't want to delve into it. This time, she didn't linger, only hummed in agreement, and went to report to the cavalry and archery camp.
Before the campaign, all duties within the army had been arranged, with few changes later. By now, the soldiers had largely accepted Shulang as their battalion commander. Then, suddenly, a military order arrived, replacing him with a woman—the daughter of a traitorous official. The cavalry battalion erupted into chaos, like water mixed with hot oil. Many were filled with resentment.
To be precise, no one is convinced.
Even Shulang didn't agree with his prince's actions. But he had followed Gu Shuan for a long time and was extremely loyal to all his orders. Even if he disagreed, he could carry them out without batting an eye.
He removed the helmet plume, symbolizing his rank as battalion commander, from his head and solemnly handed it to Zhan Xian along with the map, then gave her a standard military salute first.
Zhan Xian took it and nodded to him, her gaze sweeping over the soldiers whose faces were full of dissatisfaction, but they still did not make any move.
It wasn't until Shulang stood up and turned around, under the intimidating gaze of his, that everyone reluctantly bowed to Zhan Xian.
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