Chapter 625 A military uniform?
Unlike the biting wind on Cangbai Mountain, the group that took the eastern route was still trapped in the drizzling rain. Even though the night was as dark as ink, they could see the thick, dark clouds rolling and churning in the sky. The campfire could not be lit in the open, so they had to move it into their tents. The flickering firelight cast the shadows of the people warming themselves around the fire onto the tents, like a series of desolate and absurd shadow plays. Although no one was watching, they had no choice but to perform.
The only person who would give it a second glance was Yuwen Qian, who stood at the entrance of the camp, gazing at the chaotic figures on the hundreds of tents in the distance.
Although the surrounding light was dim, his eyes remained as clear and bright as ever, as if the fatigue and dirt from the past few days of travel could not affect his gaze. However, deep within those clear pupils, when he looked north, something seemed to be subtly surging, just like the ever-changing clouds in the sky.
However, no one saw it clearly.
The cold wind, mixed with icy rain, blew across his face and into his tent. Just as the flames in the brazier were about to be blown out, a pair of fair hands draped a heavy cloak over his shoulders.
Yuwen Qian did not react immediately. It was only after a while that he seemed to feel that warmth and slowly turned his head back.
What came into view was Yu Mingyue's bright and beautiful face.
Perhaps it was thanks to her mother, whose fate was full of twists and turns, yet who was praised as a "beauty" by the villagers around Banyan Temple, that she was so beautiful. Her beauty was so direct that it could be described as vulgar, but even vulgarity can be beautiful to the extreme. However, she always had a sense of indifference and even mockery towards the world around her. The only thing that could be felt about her attachment to this world was the way she looked at herself.
But even at such close range, those bright yet sharp eyes seemed unable to see the sadness welling up in her own eyes, and she only said with concern, "Cold, come in and rest."
Yuwen Qian paused for a moment, then looked down at the cloak draped over his shoulders.
Then he smiled and said, "I didn't even notice."
Before the tent closed, Yu Mingyue glanced outside again and said, "Rainy and snowy weather is even colder than snow. You stood in the wind for so long just now, and you lost your body temperature, so of course you can't feel it."
"..."
"If you keep blowing like this, you'll catch a cold."
This wasn't the first time Yuwen Qian had heard those unfamiliar yet interesting words from her. However, after spending more than a year together, she had explained some of them clearly, and he could understand others on his own. So it didn't prevent him from understanding what she was saying.
So he smiled and said, "Okay."
After saying that, he walked back to the table with her and sat down. Without the cold wind, the fire in the brazier burned again, and the smoky heat made Yuwen Qian feel a little uncomfortable.
As he was still in a daze, Yu Mingyue, who was sitting opposite him, looked up at him and asked, "Have you thought about how to fight this battle?"
"..."
Yuwen Qian paused for a moment, then smiled faintly and said, "Not yet."
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingyue frowned: "Then why don't you ask me?"
"..."
"He Xin, this position of Crown Prince—"
Before she could finish speaking, Yuwen Qian looked up at her, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Mingyue, you should remember that I am now the Prince of Han."
Yu Mingyue's eyes flashed: "So what?"
"..."
"Can't I call you Hexin anymore?"
Yuwen Qian shook his head and said, "I just want to remind you that this place is different from where you came from."
"..."
“Although I don’t fully understand what kind of place you come from, you need to understand this place—you address His Highness the Prince of Han by his courtesy name, which is an act of usurpation and will be punished with beheading.”
"..."
Yu Mingyue looked at him for a while.
Unlike Yuwen Qian's consistently gentle gaze, hers remained sharp, even more fearless than those of the invincible army. After a long while, she said softly, "Yes."
"..."
"Given my current status, addressing you by your given name would indeed be an overstepping of my bounds."
"..."
"Then I want—"
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside. It seemed that several soldiers rushed to their tent and said urgently, "Your Highness!"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Qian immediately stood up.
Yu Mingyue frowned slightly, but said nothing. She simply got up and walked over. Yuwen Qian personally lifted the curtain, and three soldiers in straw raincoats stood at the door, obviously on patrol tonight. As soon as they saw Yuwen Qian come out, they immediately bowed and saluted.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Prince of Han."
Yuwen Qian calmly waved his hand: "What is it?"
The soldier standing in front looked up and said breathlessly, "When we were on patrol just now, we suddenly noticed a dark shadow outside the camp. We thought it was the enemy approaching and were about to raise the alarm when we found that they threw something at us."
"Things? What things?"
"Yes, this is it."
After the soldier finished speaking, he gestured to his brother behind him, and another soldier immediately stepped forward and presented something in his hand to Yuwen Qian.
Yuwen Qian looked down and immediately frowned.
That was a military uniform?
|
Almost simultaneously, on the western front, Yuwen Ye and his men finally returned to their camp.
By this time, almost all the soldiers had gone to sleep, but several campfires were still burning in the camp, and the patrolling soldiers were holding torches high. They quickly spotted the three men, and someone immediately came forward to lead their horses and escort them into the camp, into the central command tent.
As soon as the curtain was lifted, it was clear that the inside was still brightly lit.
Shen Tu Tai had already left, but unexpectedly, Shang Ruyi was still in the main tent, with only a servant boy squatting beside her, whispering something, seemingly urging her to rest. Shang Ruyi simply smiled gently and said, "I'll wait a little longer, and when they come back I'll—"
Before he could finish speaking, Yuwen Ye and Shen Wuzheng led Nie Chong in, their bodies enveloped in the damp chill of the night dew.
She immediately stood up in surprise: "You go back—"
Once again, she stopped before she could finish speaking, but this time it wasn't because of anything that interrupted her. Instead, she noticed at a glance that Yuwen Ye not only exuded a chilling aura from the night dew, but also a distinct murderous aura that seemed to directly assault one's body. Moreover, the corners of his mouth, whether it was her imagination or not, seemed to be faintly red.
What surprised Shang Ruyi even more was that Shen Wuzheng, who was following behind him, also had some bruises on his chin and cheekbones, and one hand was supporting his arm, as if it had been dislocated and then put back in place, and he looked a little unnatural.
Both of them were covered in mud and grass, clearly indicating that they had been in a fight.
Shang Ruyi immediately tensed up, staring intently at the two of them: "You, what happened to you? Did you encounter the enemy?"
Yuwen Ye glanced at her, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately hesitated. Shen Wuzheng, however, immediately said gently, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."
Shang Ruyi was anxious—how could this be a small matter?
She hadn't been comfortable letting Prince Yuwen Ye, the Prince of Qin, go to gather information himself, and then she went with Shen Wuzheng. She was terrified all night, even though she kept smiling at Shan Tong'er who came to care for her. Only she knew that her heart was burning with anxiety all night. Now that he had returned safely, he was injured. How could she not ask about it?
But looking at Shen Wuzheng, whose brows were furrowed with wrinkles, yet he still smiled gently at her, she knew that he definitely wouldn't tell her.
Moreover, although this elder brother appears gentle, his mind is more resolute than anyone else's; once he's made up his mind, it won't change.
So, Shang Ruyi turned to look at the person beside her.
Yuwen Ye was a man with a cold and stern face who did not easily show his emotions. At this moment, although there was no obvious expression on his face, his thin lips were tightly pursed. Even without frowning or showing anger, he already gave people a strong sense of oppression. Moreover, the murderous aura emanating from him, accompanied by the cold night dew, made Shang Ruyi's breath catch in her throat.
At this point, it seemed as if there was no room left to even speak.
However, to her surprise, it was Yuwen Ye who spoke up at this moment. Although his voice was still cold, he calmly said to her, "We just encountered a few petty thieves. We'll be fine once we've dealt with them."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi was stunned for a moment, staring at him with wide eyes.
This seemed to be the only time in recent days that he had spoken to himself on his own initiative.
She could hardly believe her ears, yet what she heard was clearly his deep, weary, and hoarse voice. Shang Ruyi's throat tightened, and after a long while, she whispered, "Oh."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at Yuwen Ye without showing any emotion.
Yuwen Ye had already taken the main seat, his gaze fixed intently on the map, and then said in a deep voice, "Nie Chong—, all of you, go down. We still need to discuss the deployment of troops tomorrow. By the way, pass down the order: assemble the troops at Mao Shi (5-7 AM) and set out. There must be no mistakes."
When he mentioned Nie Chong, he naturally included Shang Ruyi, who shouldn't be there, and Shan Tong'er, who had been cautiously keeping his distance.
Nie Chong immediately replied, "Yes."
After saying that, he turned and walked out. But when he reached the door and lifted the curtain, he looked back at Shang Ruyi. Sure enough, Shang Ruyi also understood Yuwen Ye's implied meaning. She looked at his back and then at Shen Wuzheng's shoulder, and then said nothing more. She called to Shan Tong'er, and the three of them walked out of the central army tent.
The moment they stepped out of the tent, a cold wind suddenly blew in.
Shang Ruyi was already somewhat unsettled, and the sudden gust of wind made her sway. However, the chill in the wind calmed her chaotic thoughts. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her eyes lit up. She glanced back at Yuwen Ye's stiff back and Shen Wuzheng's shoulder in the central tent. As the tent flaps fell, the light dimmed, and her previously bewildered expression slowly darkened.
Nie Chong bowed to her and then hurriedly went to relay the order.
Shang Ruyi stood motionless outside the tent. The cold wind howled, but it no longer stirred her slender body. She silently parted her lips, as if she were saying something.
Nie Chong, who had already walked quite a distance, suddenly felt his steps falter.
Standing beside her, Shan Tong'er stared at her with wide eyes in surprise and asked, "Sister Ruyi—oh no, Your Highness, what are you saying? I can't hear you!"
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "I didn't say anything. You should go back and rest."
"Oh, then I'll go back."
After saying that, Shan Tong'er walked towards the resting tent, while Shang Ruyi glanced at his and Nie Chong's backs, said nothing, and also returned to her own tent.
However, after returning home, she still couldn't fall asleep. Instead, she sat alone at the low table, staring at the flickering candlelight with a cold and quiet gaze, as if waiting for something.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a footstep reached the door and stopped.
Then, Nie Chong's very soft and low voice rang out—
"princess?"
Shang Ruyi immediately raised her head, her eyes brighter than the flickering candlelight, and said in a deep voice, "Come in."
As soon as he finished speaking, Nie Chong lifted the curtain and walked in.
His expression was hesitant and somewhat dazed, as if he knew he shouldn't have come—in fact, he shouldn't have come to the Qin Princess's tent in the middle of the night, but Shang Ruyi's almost silent words in front of the central tent were meant for him, and he couldn't pretend he hadn't heard them.
So he walked up to Shang Ruyi, bowed, and was about to kneel: "Greetings—"
"No need for such formalities."
Shang Ruyi raised her hand indifferently, stopping him from bowing, and said simply, "It's not good for you to stay in my tent for too long."
Nie Chong glanced at her, then silently lowered his head.
Shang Ruyi remained seated behind the low table, her gaze fixed on the candlelight, her eyes cold as if devoid of any warmth: "You need not worry. I am someone personally authorized by His Majesty the Emperor to participate in the war. Even if you ask me about the information you gathered tonight, it is only right and proper. If anyone asks, you will not be accused of leaking military secrets."
"..."
"Besides, what I want to ask is not what you found out tonight."
"..."
Even though she said that, Nie Chong's expression became even more serious.
Clearly, he already knew what Shang Ruyi wanted to ask, something he had been avoiding on Cangbai Mountain, so he had used the excuse of going down the mountain to gather information about the local area to escape. However, he did not expect to be questioned about it again after returning.
The next moment, Shang Ruyi said in a deep voice, "I only have one question for you—did you really encounter a thief tonight?"
"..."
Nie Chong lowered his head even further.
Shang Ruyi squinted at him, not only noticing his cautious and silent demeanor, but also noticing that although he was covered in grass clippings and mud, and his clothes were soaked with night dew, he was not injured at all, and his clothes were not disheveled.
The two of them spent what seemed like an eternity in such silence and scrutiny.
Finally, Nie Chong heard Shang Ruyi let out a heavy sigh.
Then she said, "Alright, I understand. You can go and rest now."
Nie Chong looked up at her. Although the candlelight on the table was still flickering, illuminating the entire tent in an orange-red glow with a touch of warmth, Shang Ruyi's eyes suddenly turned completely cold, as if covered with frost.
He could say nothing more, only bowed respectfully, and silently withdrew.
After that, the entire camp fell silent.
Especially in Shang Ruyi's tent, when the candle wick burned to its last bit, struggled a couple of times, and finally went out with a "poof," the entire tent immediately sank into suffocating darkness. Lying on the bed, her slightly curled-up body remained motionless, as if she too had fallen into a deep sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of footsteps was heard.
Almost the same cautious, hesitant footsteps Nie Chong had made when he arrived, but the one who lifted the curtain and approached the pitch-black darkness was Yuwen Ye.
His handsome face was completely swallowed by the dim light, but his eyes still shone brightly.
In those bright eyes, something else was clearly struggling and entangled.
As soon as he lifted the tent flap, the light from the campfire burning in the camp immediately shone in. However, his tall figure only took one step inside before blocking the already dim light behind him. Only a sliver of light shone in, barely illuminating the bed leaning against one side of the tent.
It also outlines the familiar, delicate contours of the bed.
It is Shang Ruyi.
She lay there quietly, facing into the tent, a thin blanket half covering her body and the other half trailing down.
Although all was quiet, and the tent seemed to be suffocated by the darkness of the night, with no sound at all, Yuwen Ye could clearly hear his own breathing becoming heavy.
He remained silent for a long time before finally taking another step inside the tent and lowering the curtain behind him. The light was blocked once again, and the tent was plunged into darkness once more. But it seemed as if he had memorized everything he had just vaguely seen. Step by step, his heavy yet deliberately light steps reached the bedside in just a few steps.
This time, everything became clearer.
For example, the familiar, slender silhouette before my eyes, and the subtle, captivating fragrance emanating from her body that is both calming and alluring.
Yuwen Ye's hand, hanging by his side, twitched slightly. His fingers seemed to spasm, and the abrasions on his joints, caused by his instinctive counterattack, began to crack again. Although it wasn't excruciating pain, it was still unbearable for him at that moment.
His fingers spread out, then clenched again, repeating this several times, until finally they moved slightly.
She bent down, pulled up the half-covered blanket that was lying on the ground, and gently covered the person on the bed with it. Then she straightened up, took a deep breath, and turned to walk out of the tent.
But just as he was about to reach the door, he heard a whoosh behind him. It wasn't a loud noise, but in the quiet environment, it was startling.
That was the sound of someone suddenly sitting up in bed.
Clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation, it was clear that he hadn't just woken up, but rather that his actions were the result of long-suppressed emotions.
Yuwen Ye's steps faltered.
The next moment, Shang Ruyi's familiar, yet now chillingly unfamiliar voice rang out from behind. She asked, word by word, "Yuwen Ye, did you... did you... did you and my brother... fight?"
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