For several days, He Yan didn't see Li Kuang.

Li Kuang seemed to be deliberately avoiding him. He Yan couldn't find him, and his men refused to tell He Yan where he was. He Yan had stopped Li Kuang several times, but Li Kuang didn't want to talk to her. He Yan had no choice but to say, "Sir Li, before coming to Rundu, I had asked someone to ask for reinforcements. Besides, I also said that it is not impossible for the troops in Rundu to fight the Wutuo people. Why does Sir Li have to guard a dead end and block his own way?"

"This is in Rundu, not Liangzhou." Li Kuang's attitude was also very tough, and he was not moved by He Yan's words. "Although you are the Wu'an Lang appointed by His Majesty, your power is not great enough to order me around. Regarding the night raid on the enemy camp, I am very grateful for your help, but this is the end. Don't interfere with what I do from now on."

He Yan looked at him carefully. When he first came to Rundu, although Li Kuang had a sad look on his face, he was still a little angry. But now his expression was wrong. His eyes were heavy and gloomy, as if he had made up his mind and was stubborn and would not waver.

It was obvious that he was in a bad mood, and it wasn't just because of Wu Tuo. He Yan could sense it.

"Master Li...how do you plan to deal with the famine in the city?" He Yan asked, looking at his back.

Li Kuang was shocked and said, "I've said it before, I have my own way, this is none of your business!"

He Yan walked in front of Li Kuang and looked him straight in the eyes. "Lord Li, I am not from Rundu, but I am very clear about the current situation. Things have not yet reached the worst point. We burned the food and grass of the Wutuo people once, and we can kill their troops next time. If Lord Li keeps holding the intention of destroying both sides, this battle cannot be fought. This city cannot be defended at all."

Her words were indeed a bit serious. Li Kuang's face was filled with anger, "What do you know!"

"I know that if Lord Li misjudges the situation, he will make a wrong decision."

Li Kuang showed a little anxiety in his eyes. He endured it again and again, but finally couldn't help but pushed He Yan away and said, "I have my own ideas on how to do it. I don't need your advice!"

He strode out without giving He Yan a chance to speak.

He Yan frowned and stared at his back, feeling more and more uneasy.

She was not dealing with Li Kuangchu. Li Kuang's reaction was clearly a sign of frustration at the end of his rope. He refused to believe He Yan's other solution, and since He Yan couldn't convince him, she couldn't command the troops of Rundu. Even if she knocked Li Kuang unconscious, the soldiers of Rundu would not obey her orders - Li Kuang had been leading these soldiers for too long.

Perhaps it was because of this that he would not choose the "risky" decision that He Yan mentioned.

She walked out of the house slowly, with a heavy heart. In the past few days, even Zhao Shiming had been out less and less, and the food was getting less and less. It was okay to stay hungry and not move, but once she moved, she felt even hungrier, and she wished that everything could be turned into food and stuffed into her mouth.

Huyate had not yet launched an attack on Rundu. The raid that night had burned the food and straw, and I was afraid that the people of Wutuo would not be as peaceful as they seemed in the past few days. Huyate certainly wanted to attack the city immediately, but the existence of "General Feihong" made them a little wary.

But this fear will eventually dissipate, and Hu Yat will eventually find out the truth. He only needs to send people to Huayuan to find out that the one in Rundu is fake. The moment Hu Yat finds out that "General Feihong" is fake, he will immediately launch an attack on Rundu. So these few days are actually the days that He Yan fought for the people of Rundu.

But Li Kuang was stubborn and conservative.

As they were walking, they ran into Qiluo. This girl looked thinner than when He Yan first arrived in Rundu. Her oval face was now pointed due to hunger. She looked less sweet and more charming. But as soon as she saw He Yan, she smiled with her eyes curved and showed a familiar smile: "Master Xiao He."

"Miss Qiluo."

"Did you have a quarrel with the old man?" Qiluo pointed outside the door. "I just saw the old man go out in a rage. Master Xiaohe, please don't be angry with the old man. The old man has a harsh temper, but he is a good man. If you have offended Master Xiaohe, I will apologize to you on behalf of the old man."

She was thinking about her old man wholeheartedly. He Yan smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It's okay, we just have some disagreements."

Qiluo nodded, not quite understanding.

He Yan saw that she was holding something that looked like a wreath in her hand, and was a little surprised, so he asked, "You still have flowers now?"

Most of the edible things in Rundu were dug out and eaten by the hungry people. How could there be flowers to make a wreath? Qiluo handed the wreath to He Yan with a smile. He Yan took it and saw that the wreath was very small. He didn't know what kind of grass it was made of. It was dotted with scattered purple flowers. He Yan went closer to smell it, but Qiluo stopped him hurriedly: "You can't smell it, Master Xiao He, this flower is poisonous!"

He Yan: "Is it poisonous?"

"As for the weeds, the more beautiful they bloom, the more poisonous they are. Everyone in Rundu knows this, so no matter how hungry you are, you won't pick them to eat. Otherwise, how could I use them to make wreaths." She sighed again, "No matter what time it is, poisonous weeds always grow extraordinarily lushly. It would be great if the crops in the fields could be like this."

Seeing that He Yan was silent, Qi Luo smiled again and said, "Master Xiao He, are you interested in this wreath? I can teach you how to make this kind of wreath, and maybe give it to your sweetheart. Your sweetheart will be very happy."

She was still thinking about He Yan's imaginary "sweetheart". He Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She thought that if she made a wreath and gave it to Xiao Jue, Xiao Jue would probably think she was sick and would be lucky if he didn't beat her to death.

"Forget it," He Yan shook his head, "He doesn't like these flowers and grasses. I appreciate Miss Qiluo's kindness."

Qiluo was a little disappointed. She took the wreath from He Yan and said, "Okay, but how come there are no girls who like flowers and grass? When the master picked flowers for me, I was very happy for a long time."

"Lord Li?" He Yan thought. She had never thought that Li Kuang, who was so fierce, would pick flowers for his beloved concubine.

"Yes," Qiluo nodded desperately, as if she was afraid that He Yan wouldn't believe her, "She picked them for me this morning, and I made a wreath out of them."

He Yan's smile froze, "Today?"

"Not bad," Qi Luo smiled, "The master has been very good to me recently." She even forgot to say "concubine" and only cared about sharing her joy with He Yan, "He promised to give me a bigger house to live in once the war in Rundu is over, and also allowed me to plant plum trees in the yard. Yesterday, he even saved his own dry food for me to eat."

As she spoke, Qiluo herself became confused. "Could it be that I have given birth to a prettier baby recently? Or is it that my late mother is blessing me from heaven? My husband is so obedient to me that I almost don't recognize him anymore."

He Yan's heart sank, and that terrible guess came to her mind again. She asked Qi Luo, "Besides this, is there anything else wrong with Master Li recently?"

"No." Qi Luo shook her head, and then complained to He Yan: "But Master Xiao He, how can it be wrong to be nice to me? The old man was also very good to me in the past, and now he is just treating me better. Maybe it's 'a friend in need is a friend indeed', now that I am with the old man, he must be touched."

He Yan frowned and took a step forward, "Miss Qiluo, you'd better stay away from Master Li these few days."

"Why?" Qi Luo asked curiously.

He Yan looked at her. The pretty girl had grown up a lot. Her smile always carried a bit of foxy cunningness, which made her look clever and smart, very lovable, but her eyes still showed innocence.

A charming and naive beauty, and a powerless woman.

"Maybe... Lord Li will hurt you." He Yan said in a deep voice.

Qiluo was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Master Xiaohe, what do you mean? The old man dotes on me so much, how could he hurt me?"

He Yan knew she didn't believe it. In fact, women always thought that men were particularly loyal, but they didn't know... they didn't know that such loyalty also had a prerequisite.

"In times of peace and prosperity, the young lady is naturally worthy of love." He Yan's voice became lower, so low that one could hardly hear the sadness in her voice, "But in times of chaos, human life is worthless. To Lord Li, no matter how important the young lady is, she is not as important as the city of Rundu."

Qiluo: “I still don’t understand.”

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand." He Yan looked up at her, "Lord Li is very busy all day, so you shouldn't be alone with him these days. When you have nothing to do during the day, go somewhere else, go see Lord Zhao or someone else. In short, don't see Lord Li if you can avoid it."

Qiluo looked at her strangely. What the young Wu Anlang said was simply incomprehensible. Why would anyone persuade her to distance herself from her own master? If she hadn't known that He Yan had led elite soldiers to raid the enemy camp a few days ago and rescued the captured women, Qiluo would have suspected that this man was a bad guy.

She said, "Master Xiaohe, I...I am your concubine, it is impossible for me not to see you."

"Once the battle in Rundu is over, you can meet her however you want, but for now, stay away from her!"

The boy's eyes were very clear and dark, and when he looked at people intently, they were extremely powerful. Qi Luo nodded subconsciously, then shook her head.

He Yan was also hesitant. She was now a "Wu'an Lang". No matter how suspicious and worried she was about Qi Luo, she couldn't keep someone else's concubine by her side and let people gossip about her. If she did, Li Kuang would think that he was the second Jiang Jiao and might really kill Qi Luo. She said, "Go find Lord Zhao's wife and stay with her during the day. If Lord Li suddenly wants to look for you, tell someone to tell me and I'll go with you."

Qiluo was a little skeptical, but He Yan was very persistent, so she finally agreed. After giving many instructions, He Yan went to find Wang Ba and the others.

On the day of the night raid, Wang Ba and his men were also injured along with her. Shitou and Jiang Jiao were fine, Wang Ba only had a leg injury, not too serious, Huang Xiong's wound was a bit deeper, on his left hand, the scar was very deep, luckily it wasn't on his right hand, otherwise he would probably not be able to hold a knife in the future.

No matter what, they were all raising them. When they got inside, Hong Shan and Huang Xiong were both asleep, Shi Tou and Xiao Mai were helping to repair the weapons and shields, and only Jiang Jiao and Wang Ba were sitting by the doorstep.

Seeing He Yan, the two raised their heads, and Jiang Jiao asked, "Brother He, how are you?"

He Yan shook his head.

Wang Ba was furious: "What's wrong with that Li guy? He looks tall and strong, but why is he so timid? He just stays in the city like a turtle? I've become skinny from hunger these past few days. If this continues, we'll all starve to death together. We'll all be starving ghosts in the underworld. It's better for him to die when he kills the Wutuo people!"

Jiang Jiao said, "Lord Li is also afraid that the city will be destroyed and all the people in the city will be buried with him, but..." He looked at He Yan, "I asked the soldiers here, and they have run out of food. These days we have been relying on the dry food brought from Liangzhou, and we ate up the little dry food we had yesterday. From yesterday until now, we haven't eaten anything. This can't go on."

"That's right! In Rundu City, even rats have been taken out and eaten, and there is not a single bug to be seen. They want us to chew on the table? What on earth is Li Kuang thinking? If we had known that on the day of burning grain and grass, we would not be able to take away the extra, but if we had less, we could just grab a handful and put it on our body, which would have been enough to hold out for half a day."

Jiang Jiao was amused and angry at the same time. "It's already that time, why should we care so much? Brother He," he looked at He Yan, "don't you have any other solution?"

"The food and grass of the Wutuo people were burned, but they are outside the city and can still hunt, so they won't starve to death." He Yan was worried, "In terms of who can outlast the Wutuo people, the people of Rundu will definitely not be able to outlast them. So, Li Kuang's idea is definitely impossible. And now he doesn't agree to go out of the city to confront the Wutuo people head-on. I can't order the Rundu troops, I can only seek external assistance, but..."

But I'm afraid that before that day comes, there will be chaos in Rundu first. Li Kuang's attitude these days is very wrong.

She sighed and said nothing.

…

On the other side, Qiluo went to find Madam Zhao.

Although He Yan's behavior was strange, Qi Luo always had an indescribable intimacy with He Yan. Therefore, although she didn't believe what He Yan said at all, she was still willing to do what He Yan said. Now that Li Kuang was very busy every day and couldn't take care of her, she could go wherever she wanted during the day, which was freer than before.

Mrs. Zhao was holding her grandson with a sad face. Her daughter-in-law was seriously ill in bed, and the doctors came several times but it was useless. Everyone knew that this was simply a disease caused by hunger. Without food, of course, the body could not be well. Mrs. Zhao herself was so hungry that she was out of shape. She was a good wife of the county magistrate, but now her clothes were too big, and her exposed arms were so weak that they seemed like they could be broken with force.

Qiluo thought to herself that in the past, the young ladies in the city would always ask to eat less, looking thin and light and lovable, but she was afraid that after the war, no one would think so anymore. The feeling of hunger was really unbearable, and a flower must drink enough dew before it can bloom for others to see.

Mrs. Zhao only spoke two words to Qiluo and then shut up, looking listless. At this moment, she was so hungry that she didn't even want to talk.

Qiluo sat with her for a while. Then a soldier came over and said to her, "Miss Qiluo, the master is looking for you."

"Looking for me?" Qiluo was a little surprised. Li Kuang was busy with the Rundu war all day long. If she hadn't taken the initiative to look for Li Kuang, Li Kuang would definitely not take the initiative to look for her. However, thinking of Li Kuang's special favor to her in the past few days, Qiluo felt happy. The only benefit of the Rundu war was that Li Kuang saw her loyalty. Maybe this favor could last more than three years, and it was very likely that he would last ten years.

At this moment, she was only filled with the joy of fantasy in her mind, and had already forgotten He Yan's instructions. She happily lifted the hem of her skirt and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll go see the master now."

Qiluo followed the soldier into the house. Li Kuang was not the only one in the house. There were also Li Kuang's deputy soldiers, several officials in Rundu City, and several of Li Kuang's confidants. Qiluo was a little surprised. She thought Li Kuang missed her and wanted to be intimate with her. With so many people around, it didn't look like he wanted to be intimate. Maybe some important person was coming? She, the most beautiful girl in Rundu, wanted to win honor for Li Kuang? But this didn't make sense. If there was an important person, why wouldn't the county magistrate Zhao Shiming be there?

She walked forward and said, "Master."

Li Kuang had his back to her, but he turned around when he heard her words. He looked much more haggard and old these days, and standing next to Qi Luo, he really looked like Qi Luo's father. The famous general Fei Hong of the Wei Dynasty had once teased her like this, but Qi Luo didn't think it was a big deal. Her own father died early, and Li Kuang gave her food, a house to live in, and shelter. Many biological fathers in this world could not do this for their daughters. Moreover, Li Kuang was a hero who protected the people. She admired him and never thought there was anything wrong with him.

At this moment, her "husband" looked up at Qiluo. His eyes were filled with a deep meaning that she could not understand, which seemed to be sorrowful and mixed with coldness. He looked at her like this for a long time before he asked in a hoarse voice: "Qiluo, how long have you been with me?"

Qi Luo tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Master, I have been with you for more than three years. Once this summer is over, it will be four years."

Li Kuang doted on her so much that he took her with him wherever he went. His own wife and son were in Shuojing, and he had to take care of his parents, so it was impossible for her to follow him to the bitter cold border. But Qiluo, who looked young and beautiful, followed him for many years without any complaints.

He was straightforward and rough all his life, and he didn't like the intrigues of women. Qiluo had some harmless little tricks, but more of them, she was just a simple passion. She was easy to satisfy, and she always had the word "fighting for favor" written on her face. She was very polite in dealing with people, and her colleagues envied him for having such a talkative girl. In fact, Qiluo never really enjoyed anything.

As his concubine, Qi Luo's life was not as good as those women in the capital.

Li Kuang murmured, "It's been four years..."

His tone was heavy, and Qiluo felt inexplicably frightened. She tilted her head to look at the people around her, but the soldiers who were familiar to her in the past turned their heads away and avoided her gaze.

Why is this?

No matter how smart she was, she couldn't understand the reason, so she stared at Li Kuang with her wet grape-like eyes, full of confusion.

Li Kuang also had a flash of pain in his eyes, and after a moment he said, "Come here."

Qiluo stepped forward as instructed.

…

He Yan talked with Jiang Jiao and the others for a while, and Shitou and Hongshan also woke up. Xiao Mai and Shitou helped to repair the weapons, and when they returned to the house and saw He Yan, they just asked, "Brother He, aren't you going to see Master Li today?"

"I've already looked for it." He Yan shrugged.

Jiang Jiao thought for a moment and said, "How about we go with you to find Lord Li? Let's convince him together?"

He Yan actually felt that Jiang Jiao's move would not have much effect, as Li Kuang's attitude was too firm. But since it had come to this, he might as well give it a try. He stood up and said, "Okay, we can try again."

Liu Buwang accepted her as his disciple because he was annoyed by her. Li Kuang's patience is not as good as Liu Buwang's, so he might be able to do the same. Although the result of doing so would most likely be that Li Kuang would draw his sword against her.

He Yan led a group of people to look for Li Kuang again. Halfway through the journey, they passed by Zhao Shiming's yard and saw Zhao Shiming's wife sitting at the door holding her grandson in a daze. He Yan was startled and asked, "Madam Zhao, didn't you see Miss Qi Luo?"

Before she left, she had clearly told Qiluo that she would go look for Madam Zhao, but how come it seems that Madam Zhao is the only one there now?

Madam Zhao didn't seem to understand what He Yan said. After a while, she replied, "She was called away by the general."

He Yan's heart skipped a beat, and without saying anything, he immediately ran to Li Kuang's yard. Wang Ba and others behind him were confused, and Wang Ba asked, "Why is he so nervous? Is he having an affair with that woman?"

Hong Shan: "Don't talk nonsense! Ah He has just arrived in Rundu not long ago."

"Then he can also attract many people." Wang Ba muttered.

He Yan ran to Li Kuang's yard in one breath. Today, there were soldiers guarding in front of Li Kuang's house. She was startled and was about to rush in, but was stopped by the soldiers at the door: "What are you doing? The master has ordered that no one else is allowed to enter!"

He Yan stared into his eyes: "What is he doing in there?"

Her eyes were as cold as ice knives. The soldier was startled by her. Before he could say anything, Zhao Shiming came over. Seeing the scene, he frowned and said, "Why are you quarreling again? This is Master Xiaohe, why don't you get out of the way?"

The two soldiers seemed to come to their senses, and then they looked at He Yan again, saying firmly, "My Lord has ordered that no one else is allowed to enter, including Wu Anlang."

He Yan: "Get lost!"

She casually pulled the sword from one of them's waist. The two men stretched out their hands to block her, but how could they stop her? He Yan knocked them to the ground with a palm, kicked the door open and strode in. As soon as she entered, she was stunned.

In addition to Li Kuang, there were many lieutenants and soldiers in the room. Beside the chairs, there was a group of women kneeling. These women were neatly dressed, some had tear marks on their faces, and some looked calm, but He Yan still remembered one or two of their faces. They were the Wei captives she had rescued from the Wutuo people during the sneak attack on the enemy camp that night.

In the center of the room, lying on the ground, was a woman. Her body was covered with a white cloth, so it was impossible to see who she was. However, in her hand, she was tightly holding a small and delicate wreath dotted with purple.

He Yan's eyes suddenly turned red.