The Empress then looked at the obedient and gentle Yu Ling and said:
"It's good that you're willing to listen. I'll make an exception and you can return home in three years. If you're worried about not being able to get married, you can also go to a Taoist temple to cultivate yourself."
"Yichen accepts the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
Three years was a very short time for the original owner of this body, who had committed the crime of offending the royal family. The Empress then turned to the ministers: "Do you have any further objections?"
The ministers shook their heads. They were not foolish enough to oppose the Empress like the general. Her Majesty's methods were far more ruthless than those princesses. She could be ruthless even to such a handsome man, let alone them.
The Empress was finally satisfied, then turned to the general kneeling in the center and said with disdain, "When you get to the border, take good care of your health and focus your attention on the surrounding tribes. Remember, a merciful general cannot command an army."
\"I obey the decree.\"
"You should go down with General Qi as well."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Yu Ling lowered his eyelids, a cunning glint in his eyes. What he needed to do now was to stall for time and find an opportunity to escape on the way to the border!
The Empress dismissed the two kneeling men and continued to preside over the court assembly.
"Don't be afraid, I won't let them bully you, it's just that your reputation is probably... Oh right, your name is Wei..." The general leading the way out suddenly stopped, unable to recall Yu Ling's name.
"Reporting to the General, my name is Wei Yichen."
"Hmm... Wei..." She thought for a long time before finally remembering, "Young Master Wei, your father was once as beautiful as you, it's just a pity..."
The original owner's background was not something shameful to talk about. Her mother was an official who accepted bribes, but her crime did not warrant death. However, she was framed by villains, who framed several people, dismissed her from her post, investigated and punished her, and finally her family was raided. Her daughter was sentenced to death, and her sons were sent to brothels.
I can't say they were completely innocent, but they were definitely extremely unlucky.
Yu Ling lowered his head, not angry. After all, the reputation belonged to the original owner, not himself. He replied calmly, "Yi Chen is fine. I will follow the general's arrangements."
\"Um.\"
The general nodded and said nothing more. In any case, this young master was a courtesan in that kind of place, so he should know how to protect himself. Besides, a general in the field may not obey the emperor's orders. With him backing him up, who would dare to do anything to him?
As long as he behaved himself, she would turn a blind eye. However, thinking of her own younger brother and feeling some empathy for Yu Ling, she naturally didn't want the same situation to befall her own family.
Shaking his head to shake off his worries, he decided to hurry to the border to avoid any unforeseen complications.
"Men and women are different, but the situation is special, so you and I will ride together."
"yes."
Yu Ling sat obediently in front of the general, and General Qi felt a cool, refreshing fragrance fill his arms.
It smells so good!
Damn it, how did she start having such fantasies like those women with their lewd thoughts? I am a virtuous woman, and I would never do anything to take advantage of a man!
\"drive--!\"
General Qi sat up even straighter, not daring to lean forward, and cautiously cracked his whip to hurry on his way. The sound of hooves echoed as he galloped forward, and soon disappeared into the imperial city.
When they arrived at the border, it was midnight. Yu Ling couldn't have imagined that the entire Phoenix Kingdom was such a small territory. Before she could even start planning her escape, she had already arrived at the border at top speed!
The army camp was quiet except for the footsteps of the patrolling guards. A woman in close-fitting short armor held a long spear and occasionally looked out from the border gate, waiting for the general to return.
Upon seeing the figures of Yu Ling and General Qi, she was initially delighted, but then her brows furrowed and her expression became solemn.
No way? The general brought a man back? He'll be devoured by those ravenous women in the army!
The woman gritted her teeth, threw the spear aside, and was about to go down and demand an explanation. But when she got to the two men and saw Yu Ling's face, she stammered and couldn't utter a single coherent sentence.
"Who is this...?"
Upon seeing this, Yu Ling quickly retreated.
"Oh dear! General, why did you bring back a young man? And what's the story with this young master?"
Halfway through her sentence, the female soldier noticed that Yu Ling's clothes were disheveled by the wind, revealing large expanses of her fair skin. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she was glancing back and forth with a look of wanting to look but not daring to.
Could this young master be General Qi's concubine or a high-ranking official? She had also heard some rumors, such as that her general was chaste and probably didn't like men, so she couldn't help but have some wild thoughts.
"Go find the army doctor, I'll help this young master set up a tent!" General Qi was also very embarrassed, but he calmed down and ordered the female soldier to call the army doctor.
Upon hearing this, the female soldier became even more certain of her thoughts.
Not bad, not bad. As long as the general likes men and doesn't have any ulterior motives towards the women in her army, she can rest assured.
In border cities, only civilians lived in houses. To facilitate evacuation and setting up camp, the soldiers, including General Qi, stationed themselves closest to the border.
Although the military camp facilities were very basic, they were clean and tidy, and there was nothing dirty. She quickly made room for Yu Ling.
"Young Master Wei, please!" General Qi said to Yu Ling.
"Uh... thank you, General!"
Shyly lowering her head, Yu Ling followed General Qi into the tent.
The tent wasn't big, and inside there was only a wooden bed, a table, and a chair, nothing else. After Yu Ling came in, she stood there in a daze, looking somewhat uneasy.
\"that......\"
As soon as Yu Ling opened her mouth, she saw General Qi looking at her with a smile.
"Don't be so formal. Now that you're in my army, make yourself at home!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Ling, following General Qi's instructions, sat down on the wooden chair and then picked up the kettle on the table to pour the general a cup of water.
Just then, the female soldier arrived with the military doctor. After saluting the general, she was entrusted with the important task of taking good care of Yu Ling. General Qi then took the female soldier to handle military affairs.
"Are you from out of town, young master?"
The military doctor was young, around eighteen or nineteen years old, and usually had nothing to do. He was quite curious to see the handsome young man come to the army.
"Mmm!" Yu Ling responded softly.
\"oh!\"
The army doctor nodded, picked up the water that had been prepared for the general, took a sip, and continued:
"Where do you come from, young master?"
"From the capital."
"That's strange. The conditions here are so bad, yet people in the capital have no worries about food and clothing. Coming here... sigh!" The army doctor sighed as he drank water, seemingly lamenting his own hardship. "I wonder why the general brought you here?"
"Ahem, she's here to serve as a military princess to reward the troops."
"Oh, a reward... Pfft—!!!"
Before he could even swallow a mouthful of water, the medic choked and coughed, and couldn't help but ask again.
"What???"
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