Su Jinyue was a little anxious for a moment. She didn't expect that this day would come. If she had known earlier, she would have found a way to trick some token out of Xiao Duo.

"Brother, I really have something urgent to tell you. Please let them know and I will give you a generous gift..."

"absurd!"

The sentry shouted sternly, "This is the Xuanwu Army. We will not tolerate those dirty means of bribery. I advise you to leave immediately, otherwise I will be rude!"

Seeing the bow and arrow behind her aimed at her, Su Jinyue's palms broke out in sweat. She closed her eyes, wondering whether she should take a gamble, then she heard a male voice.

"What happened outside? Why are all the archers ready?"

Su Jinyue looked closely and saw that the man was still in armor. Judging from his appearance, he seemed to be the guard who stood beside Xiao Duo on the wedding day.

The sentry quickly explained, "Reporting to Deputy General Meng, a man came and shouted that he wanted to see the general. When asked his name, he could only stammer and say some crazy things."

Meng An frowned and turned to look at the "man" with an unhappy tone.

"Maybe he is just an idiot, just chase him away, why bother drawing the bow and arrow... is it you?!"

The half face revealed under the hood is so beautiful that one will never forget it at first sight.

“How could it be…”

Su Jinyue's heart skipped a beat. She didn't care about anything else and took two steps forward.

"Deputy General Meng, I come here alone, I hope you won't reveal my identity."

Meng An also realized the inappropriateness of this and tactfully stopped talking.

Su Jinyue breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked softly: "Could you please inform him for me? I have something important to discuss with General Xiao. If General Xiao is really unable to meet, I will..."

"No need to report."

Su Jinyue's heart sank, her face full of undisguised disappointment, "Then I'll do it another day..."

"The general said that if it's your words, there's no need to report it, just go and see him directly."

It was noon. In the main tent, Xiao Duo looked at the memorial spread out in front of him and was hesitant to put pen to paper.

This time, the troops were on a rapid march to suppress the bandits, and they returned victorious ahead of schedule, but the news of the victory has not yet been sent back to the court.

"General, the matter of the collusion between the bandits of Xixing Mountain and the local officials involves a wide range of people. It is better to go back and discuss it with the Duke of Zhenguo before making a decision. Reporting it to the emperor rashly may cause disaster."

Xiao Duo paused for a moment, but finally put down his pen.

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be delayed."

Song Yan was a little anxious for a moment, "But this matter involves His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the fight for the throne is getting more and more intense. Isn't this asking for trouble, Master?"

He was born and raised in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. He was not only Xiao Duo's playmate, but also his trusted right-hand man after he became an adult. No matter what the situation, he always put Xiao Duo first.

"In order to avoid getting involved in the dispute over imperial power, Concubine Xian has invited you several times these days. She is your aunt, but she has declined every time. It is better not to provoke a troublemaker like the Crown Prince!"

Xiao Duo raised his head and looked at Song Yan with a flickering gaze. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Meng An's voice coming from outside the tent.

"General, a distinguished guest wants to see you!"

Xiao Duo frowned suddenly, not knowing what he was thinking of. He subconsciously glanced at Song Yan, who immediately fell silent and stood beside the tent, one hand already grasping the hilt of the knife.

"Enter!"

Meng An opened the curtain, and behind him followed a small, hooded man.

But Xiao Duo could tell at a glance that it was just a woman dressed as a man.

He frowned slightly. "The Xuanwu Army just entered the outskirts of Beijing early this morning and set up camp an hour ago. I don't remember knowing such a discerning guest!"

Meng An's expression was a little complicated. Looking at Xiao Duo's wary and scrutinizing eyes, he didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"This is..."

"We parted on the long street last month, and I haven't thanked the general for his BMW help. I wish you all the best in my life!"

With her hood up and her long hair loose, her coarse short shirt and shorts did not hide her stunning beauty at all.

"General Xiao, how are you?"

The long wind blew through the gap in the tent and lifted the girl's long hair. Su Jinyue curled the corners of her lips and smiled.

Just like that, it hit Xiao Duo's deep pupils.

Xiao Duo's eyes flickered, and he said, "Go outside and guard. No one is allowed to come in without my permission."

Song Yan and Meng An immediately retreated and closed the tent tightly.

In the space that suddenly became quiet, it was Xiao Duo who took the initiative to break the silence.

While motioning Su Jinyue to take a seat, he stood up to pour her tea and spoke casually.

"I never thought that the Yongning Marquis' Mansion would be so well-informed!"

A cup of hot tea was placed in front of Su Jinyue.

"Miss Su has come here in disguise, but what is the important matter?"

Su Jinyue didn't hesitate to sit down, took the tea and took a big gulp. She had climbed over mountains and crossed rivers early in the morning, and her throat was already parched with thirst.

Putting down the teacup, he met Xiao Duo's probing eyes and said straight to the point, "I came to look for you today. It's my own business. No one in Yongning Marquis's Mansion knows about it."

Xiao Duo paused. Just as he was about to speak, Su Jinyue interrupted him.

"You don't have to ask me how I got the news. Even if I tell you the channel, you won't understand it. But I can guarantee that it will not harm the country, nor will it threaten your Zhenguo Mansion. General Xiao, can you rest assured?"

Not wanting her to guess his true thoughts, Xiao Duo smiled, but without feeling embarrassed about being exposed, and stopped asking further questions.

Su Jinyue went straight to the point, "I came here today to ask General Xiao for help."

Xiao Duo refilled the empty cup with hot tea, looked up and chuckled.

"Are you seeking wealth or power, or do you want me to teach that unfaithful man a lesson..."

"I want to ask the general to marry me."

The steaming tea overflowed from the cup. Even though Xiao Duo regained his cool expression in an instant, his grandeur at that moment was still exposed.

Su Jinyue seemed not to notice, and continued to talk to herself: "I know that I have offended you a lot, and I also know that the general helped me because he remembered my kindness in saving me in the countryside. I shouldn't ask for repayment, but I am desperate now, and this is the only way I can..."

"Do you remember me?"

Xiao Duo suddenly interrupted Su Jinyue's explanation, and his black eyes stared at Su Jinyue, as if trying to find out the hidden secret.

"I was only twelve years old at the time, not yet grown, and I was poisoned beyond all recognition. How could you recognize my identity?"

Su Jinyue paused, she actually didn't recognize him.

If Xiao Duo had not helped her collect the bodies in her previous life, she would not have been able to deduce the cause and effect from various scattered traces. She is afraid that she would still be kept in the dark now.

But how could she explain the reason to Xiao Duo?

"It wasn't me who recognized the general," Su Jinyue paused, "it was the general who recognized me."