Chapter 272 Childhood Sweethearts, Innocent and Pure
Every word Guo Ziyu said struck a chord with He Xun.
He was instantly pulled back to the battlefield, and the doubts that had been lingering in his mind were somewhat dispelled by this fierce fighting spirit.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and stared intently at the sand table.
"The strategist is absolutely right! My thoughts coincide with those of the general!"
"Ule's inaction is suspicious and he must have a backup plan. We need to strengthen our defenses and remain calm to counter his moves."
"As for the Chirong on the west side, although their offensive appears fierce, they are actually just relying on the mobility of their cavalry to constantly harass our flanks and try to wear down our morale."
"Muta appears to be brave, but he is actually cunning and values his life very much."
"As long as we can set up an ambush and wipe out his elite troops in one fell swoop, giving him a head-on blow, we will surely be able to blunt his morale and prevent him from daring to make a move again in a short period of time!"
He Xun became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes sparkling with the light of a worthy opponent.
He, Guo Fang, and Guo Ziyu sat around the sand table, discussing the details of how to defend Wule and launch a surprise attack on Chirong.
Sitting in the main seat, Meng Yushan remained silent throughout, only occasionally raising his eyelids at crucial moments to utter a word or two in a hoarse voice, indicating his agreement or disagreement.
And at this moment.
Behind the screen of the inner tent.
Zhou Congxian, dressed in only a single layer of clothing, stood quietly in the darkness.
He quickly removed the cold, heavy black iron armor and neatly stacked it on a shelf to the side.
The hideous demon mask lay beside the armor, appearing like a silent, ferocious beast in the darkness.
The heated discussion outside the tent reached his ears without missing a single word.
He listened silently.
For the past two months, apart from wearing a mask to represent Duke Meng in battles, inspections, and morale-boosting, he has spent almost all his time hiding in this small inner tent.
It is dark and gloomy.
I don't see anyone.
He and He Xun met in a very limited number of times in a real sense.
Most of the time, he wore a mask and, as "General Meng," stood on the city wall, in front of the vast army, gazing at the commander-in-chief of the southwestern reinforcements from afar.
Even so, he could clearly sense that this was a born general.
He Xun's tactics were cunning and ruthless, often finding a glimmer of hope in seemingly impossible situations, like a sharp dagger that could always precisely pierce the enemy's most vulnerable spot.
A feeling of sincere admiration arose in Zhou Congxian's heart.
He Xun was almost ten years older than him.
But that composure and self-control, that confidence and ease that emanated from his strategic planning, seemed to come from two generations ago.
if……
If one day, the two of them can take off this heavy armor, remove this heavy disguise, and meet each other openly and honestly.
Zhou Congcheng thought that he would be like the most humble student and humbly learn from him.
Unfortunately, now is not the time.
He closed his eyes, suppressing all his thoughts, and continued to listen intently to the wind outside the tent and the sounds of the heated debate.
...
The capital city.
The snow falling heavily, adorning the green tiles, adds a touch of poetic beauty.
Four or five servants were sweeping snow in the courtyard.
The Imperial College had already given out its annual leave, so Fu'er could finally relax without having to get up early and, like a little kitten, snuggle in her warm quilt and sleep in.
She just hadn't had a proper nap yet.
"Zhou Jiafu!"
The bedroom door was pushed open with a bang, and a gust of cold wind mixed with the smell of snow rushed in.
The maids outside the door couldn't stop them in time.
"Seventh Prince, this is the young lady's boudoir..."
Xiao Lin strode in, nearly knocking over the large paper kite that Fu'er hadn't finished making at the door.
"Is this her boudoir? It's a doghouse!"
"Whose bedroom is still piled with carpentry work!"
His eyes almost rolled to the sky.
Fu'er wrinkled her little nose, opened her eyes groggily, and saw Xiao Lin wearing a bright red fox fur coat, standing excitedly in front of her bed, his nose red from the cold.
"Still sleeping! How can you be so lazy!"
"Get up quickly, I made a new gadget, I'll take you to see it!"
Fu'er wasn't interested in his new gadget; she just wanted to get a good night's sleep.
Xiao Lin managed to rouse Fu'er from her drowsiness.
Fu'er was reluctant to leave her warm bed. Wrapped in the fox fur cloak her mother had made for her, she hadn't even finished yawning when he pulled her outside.
Meng Shilan was watching Shuang'er organize the accounts in the outer room when she heard the noise and looked up helplessly.
She only had time to catch a glimpse of two figures, one in red and one in pink, rushing out of the courtyard like the wind and disappearing into the snow-covered landscape.
"Slow down! Watch out for the slippery ground!"
Meng Shilan's voice chased after her, but she only received the clear, bell-like laughter of the children in the courtyard.
"Come back early for lunch!"
She smiled and shook her head, then lowered her head again, her gaze returning to the ledger.
Shuang'er stopped using the abacus and looked in the direction where the two little ones had disappeared, her eyes full of smiles.
"Sister, do you still remember?"
"Back then, at the entrance of the Purple Forest Garden during the Princess's banquet, the Seventh Prince gave Fu'er a jade tiger made of yellow jade."
"I heard that this is to be given to His Highness's principal wife after his wedding."
Shuang'er winked mischievously.
"I think the two of them get along so well, maybe it really is fate."
"Isn't this just like the stories in the novels, childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree?"
Meng Shilan's hand, holding the pen, paused slightly.
She raised her eyes and looked at Shuang'er, the smile in her eyes fading slightly.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable seriousness.
"Right now, they're just two playful and mischievous kids."
Shuang'er's smile froze for a moment, and she looked at her sister with some confusion.
Meng Shilan put down her pen, picked up the hot tea beside her, and felt the warmth emanating from the teacup with her fingertips.
Her gaze drifted to the pure white snowscape outside the window, her eyes filled with a distant longing.
"Xiao Lin is His Majesty's younger brother, a member of the imperial family, whose status is incomparably noble."
"And Fu'er..."
A faint smile appeared on Meng Shilan's lips.
"She's just an ordinary little girl."
"We can't reach such wealth and status, nor do we want to."
Shuang'er opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin.
Meng Shilan took a small sip of hot tea. The warm liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't warm her heart, which had long been tempered by the world and made her incredibly clear-headed.
"Shuang'er, you don't understand."
"The more illustrious the family background, the deeper and more murky the waters are."
"I only hope that Fu'er and Pangxi can grow up safely and happily."
"Let the joy of childhood remain purely in the present."
"Don't mix in too many other things."
“Those things are too heavy for them to carry.”
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