Lu Bo
She pouted, raised her hand to tug at Xiangde's sleeve, and pleaded in a pitiful, coquettish voice, "Brother Mohe~"
He was very gentle, as if coaxing a child: "You can't ride a horse, let Xuan'an take you." He raised his hand and stroked her head to calm her down. He turned to Peng Xuan'an on the horse and gave her a look, saying, "Xuan'an."
Peng Xuan'an received the signal and smiled, "Miss Pang, do you want me to carry you up? Or... do you want to come up yourself?"
She looked resentful. "I mind."
He gave a meaningful "Oh~" and looked smug. "What a coincidence? I don't mind. We complement each other perfectly."
"..." She looked at him speechlessly.
But she didn't notice that the hem of her clothes she had just been holding onto was gone! Xiangde had already mounted his warhorse and was riding towards the well-ordered army! The autumn wind carried maple leaves across the land, and her heart shattered into pieces.
She stood there, stunned, watching Qin Xiangde's departing figure! She was filled with resentment! Why hadn't she learned to ride horses sooner?!
She turned her head and glared fiercely at Peng Xuan'an, her resentment as if a vengeful ghost had entered the world, her teeth clenched in hatred.
Peng Xuan'an was taken aback when he saw her fierce expression. "Why are you so fierce? It's not like I chased him away." He felt a little aggrieved for no apparent reason.
Finally, Pang Linqiu obediently mounted her horse, and Peng Xuan'an enveloped her in his arms. The two rode behind the army, which only needed 20,000 elite soldiers, plus some elite troops from the border, enough for the attack.
Forty years after the founding of the dynasty, Xuan An, the ruler of the state, led an army of 20,000 to attack Li, accompanied by the crown prince. The campaign took place in three days.
The journey was incredibly dull, so Xuan An tried to talk to Lin Qiu, who was holding him with a stern face. Lin Qiu ignored him and remained silent, leaving him to talk to himself for almost ten kilometers. He didn't know what he had done to upset her again, so he simply shut up, looked at the scenery along the way, and enjoyed the faint fragrance.
"How many days will it take to get there?" she asked quietly, before Peng Xuan'an, who was still admiring the scenery, could react.
"How many days will it take to get there?" she repeated.
He snapped out of his reverie, glanced down at the person in his arms, and pondered, "Hmm... it should take about three days to arrive."
Is it that far?
"This is a normal march; we travel about forty li a day."
"We need to travel two hundred li to the east?" she asked, puzzled.
"Yes, what's wrong?" He was puzzled as to why she was asking these questions, and even more curious as to why she had come as well.
"Zhi Qiu," he mumbled in a daze.
"Huh?" Pang Linqiu asked, turning around to look at him in bewilderment.
He paused for a few moments, then realized he had called her by the wrong name. "Sorry, I called you by the wrong name." His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and he called out again, "Lin Qiu."
It's only a one-word difference, so why did I think of that name?
She was speechless.
"Linqiu, why...why did you come too?" His tone was full of worry, his eyelashes drooping and his eyes filled with concern. "Don't you know how dangerous the battlefield is? What will happen if something happens to you...?"
She acted as if nothing was wrong, wondering, "Why did you have to come?" Was it because she was afraid of being a burden to them? It was as if she had insisted on coming. "Why are you worrying so much? If something happens, it's none of your business."
After hearing the answer, he was secretly heartbroken. "Am I really that unworthy?" Unworthy of your affection? Unworthy of your help when things go wrong? Unworthy of your worry?
"Mm." She didn't detect the sadness in his voice and nodded.
"Okay." His voice was low, and a melancholy crept onto his handsome face.
We set off at dawn, traveling forty li eastward. The further east we went, the more bleak and biting the wind became. The green leaves donned new clothes and scattered, falling to the ground. The trees went from dense to sparse, replaced by grasses.
As night fell, the chill intensified, and the army set up temporary shelters. A separate shelter was built for Pang Linqiu, a woman alone, right next to Peng Xuan'an and Qin Xiangde's tents.
A campfire was lit in the military camp, dispelling the chill and the engulfing darkness, its warmth illuminating the surroundings. The camp was brightly lit, and patrolling soldiers, torches in hand, moved steadily between the tents, their strict vigilance creating an invisible sense of pressure.
Three days later, the group finally arrived at their destination.
When they arrived, only half the sun was shining in the sky. The military camp was well-hidden, with trees and bushes providing some cover. The camp was enormous, capable of holding tens of thousands of people.
Exhausted, Pang Linqiu dismounted, intending to find a place to rest, but unexpectedly, she bumped into three military officers who had come to report for duty. Seeing the solemn and serious atmosphere, she subconsciously tensed up and quickly looked for Qin Xiangde.
A military officer in his thirties saw her, frowned, and asked sternly, "Whose daughter are you?" He knew that Pang Linqiu had been brought in by the Crown Prince and the Major General, but he wondered why a woman like her would come. If she had trespassed, he would have reprimanded her instead of simply questioning her.
"..." She froze, unsure how to answer.
“Senior Yan, she is the one I brought.” Peng Xuan’an handed the horse reins to Yibing and came to her side.
"Major General! How could you do such a ridiculous thing?" Bringing people in without permission? Isn't that ridiculous?
"Major General! She's a woman, this is a military camp..."
All firepower was focused on Peng Xuan'an, and Pang Linqiu instantly became mute. She didn't know how to face the questioning and strange looks that came from the start.
Qin Xiangde explained, "Everyone, Lin Qiu was brought here after I asked my father for permission; she was not brought here privately."
The three military officers fell silent for a moment upon hearing this; some looked grave, some were displeased, and some were dissatisfied.
But since the Crown Prince had already spoken and the Emperor had agreed, there was nothing they could do about the situation.
Peng Xuan'an bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, saying politely, "I have come today to resolve the three-year war between Tao Kingdom and Li Kingdom. I hope that you seniors can help me."
The three military officers were all more than ten years older than him, and they were quite envious. They had been in their positions for many years, only getting promoted once in a long while. Meanwhile, Peng Xuan'an had entered officialdom through the recommendation and resources of the Pang family head, become close friends with the Crown Prince, and enjoyed the Emperor's favor and the Emperor's patronage.
Wasn't he simply a chosen one, born of pure destiny? It's like he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Before gaining the favor of the Pang family head, his family was merely a small merchant household. His father had married into the family and, by chance, passed the imperial examination, receiving a position as an eighth-rank official. The Peng family's fortunes improved, and they shed their merchant status. Later, the Peng family prospered entirely thanks to Peng Xuan'an.
Unexpectedly, he abandoned the Pang family head's daughter for an unknown girl! Such a good opportunity, yet he didn't seize it; if he had, his future would have been so bright! Who wouldn't be envious?
The three military officers exchanged a smile.
"Major General, we obey your orders. The Emperor has spoken. How dare we disobey? Just give us your instructions."
"Alright." He glanced at Pang Linqiu, who was hiding behind Qin Xiangde, and introduced her, "She is the fourth young lady of the Pang family, Miss Pang Linqiu. I hope you seniors will take good care of her."
Hearing her name and Peng Xuan'an's words, "Take good care of me," sent chills down her spine. She felt like he was targeting her! She was already scared when they first met, and now he wanted to "take good care of her"? Was he trying to mess with her mental state?
She peeked out and smiled, her voice soft and sweet, "Linqiu, greetings to the seniors."
The three military officers nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"I can't believe it, Linqiu, you've grown so much." One of them looked her over and said with a kind smile.
"Yes..." she said awkwardly, having no idea who he was. She was afraid he would suddenly say, "I used to hold you when you were little." "Have you forgotten who I am?" "I even bought you delicious food."
"So many years have passed, I suppose you don't remember who I am. I'm your Uncle Lu. How is your father doing these days?" he asked politely.
Thank goodness she didn't say those three sentences! And she even clarified the generational hierarchy!
She was both surprised and delighted, and said, "So it's Uncle Lu! Father is well. When will you go to visit him and catch up?"
...
After exchanging a few polite words with Uncle Lu, it gradually got dark, and a campfire was lit.
The crowd dispersed and returned to their respective tents.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
