Chapter 72

The upper reaches of Ji Province.

The dam had been destroyed.

Yellow, turbulent floodwaters surged over the riverbanks, gathering force from the torrential rain as they roared downstream.

Rain poured from the heavens like a waterfall.

After the night’s bloody battle, the camp was left with nothing but corpses strewn across the ground and an oppressive silence.

The surviving soldiers worked in the rain to clear the battlefield.

An elderly man stood beside the general responsible for constructing the dam. Together, they watched the raging floodwaters rushing downstream and the young recruits who had died that night.

Both wore expressions too heavy for words.

After a long while, the general finally asked,

“Grand Tutor, do you think releasing the flood downstream will still make a difference?”

The elderly man who had been trapped in the refugee camp alongside Fan Changyu for so many days was none other than Grand Tutor Tao, who had retired from office years ago.

Rainwater ran down his wrinkled eyelids.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked toward the sky and said,

“We can only do our utmost and leave the rest to fate.”

Suddenly, the soldiers clearing the battlefield stopped what they were doing.

Murmurs spread among them as they stared toward a distant point.

Grand Tutor Tao and the camp commander followed their gaze.

A woman on horseback was emerging slowly from the dark rain curtain.

Lightning flashed.

As she drew closer, everyone noticed several riders following behind her.

They wore Ji Province military uniforms, and hanging from their saddles were several severed heads, their blood long washed clean by the rain.

The woman was Fan Changyu.

Grand Tutor Tao seemed to have guessed what had happened.

He met her gaze with his aged eyes.

There was surprise in them.

Admiration.

And the satisfaction of knowing he had not misjudged a promising talent.

The riders arrived before them.

The soldiers dismounted and knelt in the rain to report.

Unable to suppress their excitement, one of them said,

“General! We went after the three scouts who escaped, only to discover they had already been intercepted and killed by this young lady! We brought back the scouts’ heads as proof.”

The commander overseeing the dam’s construction was stunned for a moment.

Then his face lit up with joy.

Stepping forward through the rain, he clasped his fists toward Fan Changyu.

“Heroine, by preventing those rebels from carrying the news back, you have saved the countless soldiers and civilians of Lu City from disaster. On behalf of the people and defenders of Lu City, Tang thanks you.”

Fan Changyu held the reins of a chestnut warhorse she had taken from one of the scouts.

“You flatter me, General. I only acted because of the dying request of that general back at the camp.”

Rain dripped from the general’s eyelashes.

He let out a heavy sigh.

“That was General Andingbei.”

Andingbei.

Fan Changyu thought to herself that it truly sounded like the name a great general should have.

Whether general or common soldier, those who had died in the storm tonight could finally rest in peace, knowing their sacrifice had not been in vain.

The main reason she had returned was to retrieve her bundle.

When she had crossed Wu Ridge to hunt down the three scouts, she had left it on horseback.

When she returned, the horse was gone from where she had left it.

Thinking the animal had likely found its own way back to camp, she followed the cavalry pursuing the scouts and returned with them.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Fan Changyu explained her purpose.

Unfortunately, the night’s chaos had been so great that no one had noticed whether a horse had returned by itself.

The camp commander immediately arranged a private tent for her to rest in and ordered his men to search for her belongings.

Fan Changyu had indeed suffered numerous bruises and scrapes while crossing mountains in the storm, and her clothes were completely soaked.

She needed time to clean herself up, so she accepted gratefully.

There were no suitable women’s clothes in the camp.

The commander had someone bring her a new military uniform instead.

It happened to be the smallest size available and fit her perfectly.

The moment she finished changing, she could no longer wait.

Without even bothering to rest, she headed straight for the stables to search for her bundle.

When Grand Tutor Tao came looking for her, he found only an empty tent.

—

The rain continued pouring throughout the night.

Although news of victory had already arrived, no one in the camp could rest.

The soldiers were still clearing the battlefield, searching for survivors, and digging graves to bury the fallen.

Even the stables were overwhelmed.

Some horses had suffered cuts from battle.

Others had injured their hooves on sharp objects.

The military veterinarians were as busy as the physicians, barely finding time for a sip of water.

Fan Changyu was asking a soldier where General Andingbei’s horse was being kept when she heard a familiar elderly voice.

“There’s a wooden wedge lodged in this hoof. Bring me a pair of pincers.”

Peering inside, she froze.

Then her face lit up with delight.

“Uncle Zhao!”

Carpenter Zhao was treating an injured warhorse.

At first, he thought he had misheard.

Squinting through his aging eyes, he looked toward the entrance.

The moment he recognized Fan Changyu, his face brightened with joy.

Then he noticed the military uniform she was wearing and instantly turned pale.

Pointing toward the soldier helping hold up the horse’s leg, he ordered,

“You, go get the pincers.”

After the soldier left, he called Fan Changyu over to help.

The young soldier leading her there was about to object, but Fan Changyu quickly explained that they were fellow townsfolk and was already chatting with Zhao.

Nearly frantic, Zhao lowered his voice and asked,

“How did you end up in the army? If anyone discovers you’re a woman, that’s a capital offense!”

After changing into dry clothes, Fan Changyu had loosened her hair, dried it, and tied it back again.

Since she was in a military camp, it would have been inappropriate to wear a woman’s hairstyle while dressed as a soldier.

So she simply bound it carelessly behind her head.

She wasn’t intentionally disguising herself as a man, but the natural heroism in her features made her resemble a handsome young youth at first glance.

Realizing Zhao had misunderstood, she hurriedly summarized everything that had happened over the past several days.

Only after learning she hadn’t enlisted disguised as a man did Zhao finally relax.

But when he heard about Qingping County being ravaged by bandits and his wife being injured, his eyes reddened.

He repeatedly wiped away tears with his sleeve.

After treating the horse’s hoof, the two found a place to sit and talk.

“Uncle Zhao, were you also sent here to build the dam?”

Zhao sighed.

“I was originally making defensive equipment in Lu City. Then I heard Yan Province was borrowing twenty thousand troops, and this old skeleton got sent along too. After several days of travel, the army stopped here, and only then did I learn we were building a dam. Along the way, warhorses kept falling sick, and the mules hauling stone often injured their hooves. My main job here has been treating animals.”

Fan Changyu had spent her entire time confined among the laborers excavating stone.

Zhao had never visited that section of the camp.

No wonder they hadn’t crossed paths before.

The coincidence left both of them sighing.

Thinking of Yan Zheng, Fan Changyu asked,

“Have you heard any news about Yan Zheng?”

At the mention of him, Zhao hesitated briefly.

“He was among the first batch of soldiers loaned to Yan Province. I delivered everything you entrusted me with. Originally, I thought he was here helping build the dam too. But after asking around these past few days, it seems he was transferred to Yan Province.”

Yan Province bordered the front lines and fought directly against the Northern Di tribes.

In some ways, it was even more dangerous than Lu City.

After a moment of silence, Fan Changyu said,

“With his abilities, he should be able to build a good future for himself.”

Still unaware that the bundle had contained divorce papers, Zhao smiled.

“If that boy succeeds, you’ll enjoy the benefits too.”

Fan Changyu had no intention of hiding the truth any longer.

Pressing her lips together, she said,

“Uncle Zhao, we’ve already divorced.”

Zhao nearly dropped the rough pottery bowl of hot water he was drinking.

“What happened?”

Fan Changyu answered honestly.

“The marriage was fake from the beginning. It was only meant to deal with Fan Da and protect the family property.”

After setting down his bowl, Zhao sat silently for a long while before sighing.

“Changyu, from what I’ve seen, that boy Yan Zheng wasn’t indifferent to you. Young couples are often stubborn and hot-blooded. They take wrong turns. If you meet again someday, you should talk things out properly. Don’t let it become a lifelong regret.”

Thinking about how she hadn’t even spoken properly to Yan Zheng before he left, Fan Changyu felt a pang in her heart.

She lowered her eyes and nodded.

“Alright.”

A soldier soon arrived with another injured horse, shouting for Zhao to take a look.

After recovering her bundle, Fan Changyu found herself with nothing else to do and stayed behind to help Zhao.

—

Grand Tutor Tao had been waiting in his tent for ages.

When Fan Changyu failed to return, he personally came looking for her.

Instead, he found her in the stables, happily helping an old veterinarian lift horse legs.

The enthusiasm she showed toward Zhao was completely different from the distant politeness she displayed toward him.

Grand Tutor Tao’s expression darkened immediately.

So she refused to become his disciple.

Yet now she was planning to learn veterinary medicine from some old animal doctor?

Standing outside the stable, he deliberately coughed several times.

Unfortunately, between the noise of the stable and the thunderstorm, no one heard him.

Suddenly, one of the warhorses panicked while a veterinarian was extracting an arrowhead from its leg.

The horse kicked the veterinarian and then bolted wildly through the stable.

It knocked over a wooden support beam.

The entire structure collapsed.

Chaos erupted.

The frightened horses stampeded in every direction.

The soldiers could barely control them.

Fan Changyu reacted instantly.

Grabbing Zhao, she dragged him to safety.

Looking up, she suddenly saw Grand Tutor Tao still standing motionless at the entrance.

A terrified horse was charging directly toward him.

Without thinking, she sprinted over and scooped the old man up before carrying him to an open area.

Only after setting him down did she wipe the rain from her face.

“Why are you here, Elder?”

Zhao asked curiously,

“This is…?”

Fan Changyu replied,

“This is the elderly scholar I mentioned—the one I met while digging stone.”

Grand Tutor Tao had practically been carried at full speed.

His stomach churned.

His head spun.

Trying to maintain his dignity, he adjusted his robes and refused to acknowledge her.

The frightened horses were eventually calmed.

A nearby military tent was converted into a temporary infirmary.

Fan Changyu planned to escort both Zhao and Grand Tutor Tao there to get out of the rain.

But when she touched Zhao’s arm, he winced.

“Ow!”

“Did I hurt you when I pulled you earlier?”

Zhao waved dismissively.

“These old bones aren’t what they used to be. My joints get injured easily.”

Fan Changyu immediately felt guilty.

She had probably pulled too hard in her panic.

Once inside the tent, she found a chair for him.

The veterinarian kicked by the horse was now having his bones reset nearby, screaming loud enough to shake the tent.

Seeing that treatment would take a while, Fan Changyu fetched hot water and began applying warm compresses to Zhao’s arm.

Grand Tutor Tao stood there for quite some time.

Watching her fuss over Zhao while completely ignoring him, his moustache practically drooped from irritation.

Finally, he sat down opposite Zhao.

“Ah, my head!”

He groaned loudly.

Louder than the veterinarian whose bones were being set.

Fan Changyu immediately turned around.

“What’s wrong?”

Closing his eyes, Grand Tutor Tao replied,

“My head hurts.”

“You must have caught a chill from the rain.”

She immediately asked the military physician to examine him as well.

The attendants accompanying Grand Tutor Tao knew his true identity and dared not let anything happen to him.

They tried persuading him to return to the command tent for treatment.

He flatly refused.

When the physician finally examined him, he discovered the old man was already running a fever.

Medicine for colds was immediately ordered.

Because manpower was short, Fan Changyu volunteered to brew medicine for both Zhao and Grand Tutor Tao.

Since Grand Tutor Tao stubbornly refused to return to his own tent and insisted on staying with the wounded soldiers, the attendants eventually arranged beds for him and Zhao side by side.

Zhao was friendly and easygoing.

Grand Tutor Tao, however, grew even more irritable due to his illness.

No matter how warmly Zhao tried to converse with him, he barely responded.

Only when Fan Changyu left to prepare medicine did he mutter through his headache,

“My medicine must be brewed first.”

Fan Changyu could only laugh helplessly.

“Both pots are being used at the same time. There is no first or second.”

Only then did he fall silent.

Oblivious to the old man’s hostility, Zhao smiled and said,

“Changyu meeting a teacher like you while trapped in the army is truly a blessing.”

Those words eased Grand Tutor Tao’s mood considerably.

“What relation are you to that girl?”

“We’ve been neighbors for over ten years. I watched her grow up. She’s like my own granddaughter.”

Grand Tutor Tao suddenly felt that this seemingly harmless old veterinarian was subtly boasting about his closeness to Fan Changyu.

Thinking about how badly his attempt to take her as a disciple had gone, he became annoyed again.

Zhao sighed.

“Such a good girl. Yet such a hard life. She lost her parents, divorced her husband, and now even her younger sister has disappeared.”

Hearing this, Grand Tutor Tao felt genuine sympathy.

The resentment he still harbored over her rejection lessened considerably.

“I have a student in the army. He’s practically a son to me. He’s become an official. If that girl can’t find a good husband in the future, I’ll have that brat find a reliable and hardworking young man under his command for her.”

Hearing someone willing to concern himself with Fan Changyu’s future, Zhao became even more convinced that Grand Tutor Tao was her benefactor.

After expressing his thanks, the two old men began chatting enthusiastically.

Without their earlier prejudice, Grand Tutor Tao found Zhao surprisingly insightful despite his lack of formal education.

Listening to stories from decades spent as both carpenter and veterinarian proved unexpectedly enjoyable.

When Fan Changyu returned with the medicine, she found the two men acting as though they had known each other their entire lives.

She was completely baffled.

She had no idea they had already arranged a “reliable and hardworking husband” for her.

—

By the afternoon of the next day, news arrived that Lu City’s battle had ended in victory.

The ambush at First-Line Gorge had also been a tremendous success.

Prince Changxin’s heir had been captured alive.

Morale throughout the army soared.

Everyone celebrated.

However, the spring rains had triggered mudslides.

The remaining Yan Province forces were now trapped in the mountains.

Upon learning that Lu City’s defeat and the borrowed troops from Yan Province had all been part of a scheme, Prince Changxin apparently became desperate.

Abandoning caution, he personally led the remainder of his army to surround First-Line Gorge, declaring that he would starve both the Yan Province army and the Marquis of Wuan to death on the mountain.

After hearing the scouts’ reports, the camp commander immediately gathered his officers to discuss a rescue plan.

The twenty thousand soldiers who had come to build the dam were almost entirely recruits with no combat experience.

When attacked by Chong Province forces the previous night, they had panicked badly enough to let three scouts escape.

If they rashly marched to First-Line Gorge now, they could easily fall into an enemy trap.

The terrain had become even more dangerous after the landslides.

One careless mistake could lead to total annihilation.

As everyone struggled for a solution, Grand Tutor Tao, still recovering from illness, entered the command tent.

He proposed a strategy.

“Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao.”

He explained,

“Send the main force of the twenty thousand troops stationed by the river mouth toward Chong Province. Surround the city without attacking it. Prince Changxin will have no choice but to return and defend his base. After all, if Chong Province falls, killing every Yan Province soldier on that mountain will accomplish nothing.”

The commander was delighted.

“Excellent! We’ll break camp immediately!”

Still hoarse from illness, Grand Tutor Tao coughed before adding,

“The trapped Yan Province army is likely running out of supplies. A separate force should deliver food as soon as possible.”

The commander slapped his forehead.

“Quite right!”

Soon orders were issued.

The army began preparing to move.

Zhao would accompany the main force toward Chong Province.

Fan Changyu originally wanted to go as well.

However, as a civilian woman, remaining permanently with the military would violate regulations.

Although she had rendered great service and many surviving refugees were still being sheltered in the camp, there were limits.

The commander could reward her with money.

He could not grant her military rank.

Traveling alone was certainly possible.

But Fan Changyu hesitated.

With Prince Changxin besieging the mountains, Chong Province’s gates would be tightly sealed.

Even if she reached the city, she could not search for Changning.

Meanwhile, Zhao had said Yan Zheng might have been among the thousand soldiers borrowed by Yan Province.

After the battle and mudslides, no one knew whether he was alive or dead.

Should she go to First-Line Gorge and look for him first?

As Grand Tutor Tao returned from the command tent, he found her standing outside lost in thought.

“Girl, I’m accompanying the supply convoy to deliver provisions to the Yan Province army. Would you like to come along?”

Only recently had Fan Changyu learned that the eccentric old man was surnamed Tao.

Because of his considerable talent, he had effectively become one of the army’s strategists.

Even the commanding general treated him with great respect.

Looking at the deeply wrinkled face before her, Fan Changyu thought carefully.

Then she nodded.

It would be good to see Yan Zheng one more time.

If he was dead, she would bury him and erect a grave marker.

As far as she knew, he had no family left.

They had at least known one another and spent several months as husband and wife in name.

In future years, when burning offerings for the dead, she could burn some for him as well.

And if he was alive…

Then perhaps they wouldn’t have to spend the rest of their lives as strangers.

The supply convoy departed first.

When Zhao came to see them off, Fan Changyu was bewildered to discover that he had far more to say to Grand Tutor Tao than to her.

—

To avoid enemy scouts, the convoy took winding mountain paths.

Even so, they encountered several groups of scouts.

Fortunately, the accompanying archers relentlessly hunted them down, pursuing some for more than ten miles.

Only through such efforts did they prevent news of their movement from reaching the enemy too quickly.

Because Fan Changyu had killed the three scouts at Wu Ridge, she had already gained some reputation among the recruits.

Sometimes, when scouts were pursued, she was invited along.

She wasn’t good with bows.

Although she possessed enough strength to snap a bowstring through sheer force, her accuracy was abysmal.

She could throw a stone more accurately than she could shoot.

Eventually, she gave up trying to learn.

However, after seeing archers shoot rabbits for extra meals, she couldn’t help admiring them.

“You’re amazing!”

The veteran soldiers laughed.

“Miss Fan, if you saw our Marquis shoot, you’d understand true skill. Within a hundred paces, forget rabbits—he can hit a willow leaf.”

Fan Changyu had heard of the saying “shooting through a willow leaf at a hundred paces.”

Actually seeing someone capable of such a feat sounded unbelievable.

Still, the already-impressive image of the Marquis of Wuan grew even larger in her mind.

—

After a day and a half of relentless travel, they finally reached the entrance to First-Line Gorge.

Prince Changxin had likely learned that twenty thousand troops were moving toward Chong Province.

The forces guarding the mountain had withdrawn somewhat.

Though not numerous, they were still more than enough to stop the thousand-man supply convoy.

To deliver provisions, the only option was to coordinate with the trapped army inside and attack from both directions.

Whether they could hold out long enough for the soldiers above to notice them remained uncertain.

Just as Grand Tutor Tao and the young officer leading the convoy were worrying over this problem, reinforcements from Yan Province arrived.

The combined force now numbered two to three thousand.

They launched a loud, aggressive assault against one of the mountain passes guarded by Chong Province troops.

The commotion immediately drew the attention of the trapped Yan Province soldiers.

Attacking from within, they coordinated perfectly with the reinforcements.

A gap was quickly torn open.

Food, medicine, and supplies were rushed onto the mountain.

The reinforcement force itself did not remain.

After helping move supplies, they withdrew into the forests before enemy troops could surround them.

Their purpose was to remain outside and provide support when the trapped army eventually launched a breakout.

Fan Changyu had originally been watching the battle beside Grand Tutor Tao.

However, seeing how slowly the supplies were being moved, she grew anxious.

Unable to restrain herself, she joined in carrying them.

By the time she had hauled numerous sacks of grain onto the mountain, the exit had already been sealed again.

Like many of the soldiers who had helped transport supplies, she found herself stranded on the mountain.

She wasn’t particularly upset.

After all, she had come looking for Yan Zheng.

Now she could finally ask around.

The trapped Yan Province soldiers had gone two full days without food.

Since spring had only just begun, edible wild plants remained scarce.

The little game they managed to hunt only produced thin meat broth.

The arrival of grain immediately transformed the camp.

Soldiers hurriedly lit fires and began cooking.

Conditions in the infirmary were even worse.

Many soldiers had developed high fevers after being drenched in rain.

The physicians had long run out of medicine.

Others suffered untreated injuries from battle and landslides.

Bandages made from torn clothing wrapped wounds that lacked even proper hemostatic treatment.

Looking at these men, Fan Changyu felt a pang of sadness.

Someone’s father.

Someone’s son.

Someone’s husband.

And perhaps many would never return home.

Having cared for both Changning and Yan Zheng before, she had experience brewing medicine.

Seeing how overwhelmed the physicians were, she volunteered to help.

—

The moment medicine arrived, the physicians first intended to treat Xie Zheng.

Ever since the mudslide two days earlier trapped them on the mountain and allowed the Chong Province army to block all routes down, he had scarcely slept.

Together with Gongsun Yin, he had spent every waking moment planning defensive strategies.

His injuries were severe.

Yet because medicine had been scarce, he had refused fresh treatment and ordered all supplies reserved for soldiers in worse condition.

Changning had proven surprisingly resilient.

After drinking one dose of medicine, her fever broke.

Though two days of near-starvation had visibly thinned her.

The meat broth the soldiers prepared lacked both salt and seasoning.

The smell alone made her nauseous.

Only after Xie Zheng ordered wild herb juice brushed onto roasted meat could she force herself to eat.

Knowing Xie Zheng was injured and unable to care for her personally, Gongsun Yin moved Changning into his own quarters and assigned guards to watch over her.

Now, as the physician urged Xie Zheng to change his dressings, he informed him that food and medicine had finally arrived.

At once, exhaustion crashed over him.

Blood loss.

Two sleepless nights.

The accumulated fatigue was overwhelming.

He felt as though closing his eyes might send him into a sleep from which he would never wake.

Massaging his temple, bloodshot eyes filled with weariness, he said,

“This Marquis can still endure. Treat the soldiers first. There are too many wounded men in the infirmary. Move some of them here to the command tent.”

There were not enough tents on the mountain.

Many soldiers were sleeping beneath makeshift shelters constructed from branches.

The physician was anxious.

“Marquis, there is enough medicine. Your injuries are serious—”

Xie Zheng lifted his gaze.

The cold, exhausted look in his eyes silenced the physician instantly.

The physician knew his commander valued his soldiers more than himself.

With a sigh, he left, intending to seek Gongsun Yin’s help instead.

After hearing the situation, Gongsun Yin simply instructed that the bandaged wounded soldiers be transferred into the command tent.

The physician obeyed, confused.

Only afterward did he understand.

Once Xie Zheng saw that medicine truly was sufficient, he would stop refusing treatment.

Exhaustion overwhelmed Xie Zheng.

After the physician left, he intended to continue rubbing his aching temple.

Instead, he fell asleep sitting upright.

The noise of wounded soldiers being moved into the tent eventually woke him.

Temporary beds made from branches had been arranged throughout the command tent.

The guards urged him to rest on one of the empty cots.

Seeing how his presence at the central seat made the injured soldiers nervous, he agreed.

His wound was on his chest.

Armor pressed painfully against it.

He wore only a simple inner robe.

Most of the soldiers transferred into the tent were ordinary infantry.

Very few had ever seen him up close.

Since he wasn’t wearing armor and was obviously injured, they assumed he was simply another wounded soldier.

Xie Zheng had opened the command tent so they could recover comfortably.

Naturally, he didn’t want them trembling under his gaze.

He ordered his guards not to reveal his identity.

Then he lay down and finally slept.

Worried he would catch a chill, the guards wanted to cover him.

But his fine cloak was too conspicuous.

After much deliberation, they draped a worn soldier’s uniform over him instead.

—

After brewing medicine, Fan Changyu learned that some wounded soldiers had been moved elsewhere.

Carrying trays of medicine, she went to deliver them.

Starting at the entrance, she handed bowls to each soldier.

The injured men were surprised to discover the helper was a young woman.

Many thanked her shyly.

One of Xie Zheng’s personal guards glanced toward the entrance.

The moment he saw Fan Changyu, his eyes widened like bronze bells.

He recognized her immediately.

Wasn’t this the very woman their Marquis had personally rescued from the bandit stronghold in Qingping County?

Why was she wearing a Ji Province soldier’s uniform?

In an instant, the guard imagined an entire tragic tale of a devoted wife crossing thousands of miles in search of her husband.

He looked at the sleeping Xie Zheng.

Then at Fan Changyu.

Unable to decide whether he should wake his commander.

Before he could make up his mind, Fan Changyu had already arrived.

Xie Zheng disliked bright light.

He was sleeping turned toward the inside of the tent.

Most of his face was hidden in shadow.

Fan Changyu failed to recognize him immediately.

What she did notice was the blood soaking half his clothing.

The bandages around his chest were stained crimson again.

It certainly didn’t look like a freshly treated wound.

She frowned and immediately called out toward the entrance.

“Physician! This man’s wound seems to have reopened. He needs to be rebandaged!”

The instant he heard her voice, Xie Zheng’s eyes flew open.

Fan Changyu moved around the bed, intending to adjust his position.

Then their eyes met.

She froze.

For several moments, she simply stared.

Then she said uncertainly,

“Yan Zheng?”

The moment the name left her lips, she took in his blood-covered appearance.

Suddenly, her nose stung.

So he really had nearly died here.

Xie Zheng looked at her without speaking.

His brows unconsciously drew together.

Others might not notice.

Those who knew him well would understand.

He was stunned.

After careful consideration, the guard quietly retreated farther away.

The other wounded soldiers assumed Fan Changyu had traveled thousands of miles searching for her husband.

They looked on with envy.

Xie Zheng stared at her for a long time.

As though confirming she was truly here.

Finally, in a hoarse voice, he asked,

“How did you get here? Why did you come?”

After two sleepless nights, his voice was rough.

Fan Changyu had never imagined meeting him under such circumstances.

Looking at the blood covering him, her eyes suddenly felt hot.

“I came to find you.”

It was the truth.

After learning he was serving with the Yan Province army, she had followed the supply convoy because she worried something might happen to him.

At those words, Xie Zheng’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

It felt as though a hook had suddenly caught his heart.

It hurt.

Yet at the same time, a strange warmth spread through him.

As though something were trying to take root and grow within his chest.

His dark eyes never left her.

“To find me?”

Fan Changyu had already begun removing his bandages.

Looking at the horrifying wound that stretched across most of his chest—mixed with medicinal herbs and blackened blood—her eyes reddened further.

Ignoring his question, she pressed her lips together and asked quietly,

“How did you get hurt this badly?”

The wound looked even worse than those she had treated after first finding him.

For the first time, Xie Zheng saw such an expression in her eyes.

Like morning sunlight filtering through misty mountains after rain.

Warm.

Gentle.

Brilliant.

And filled with concern.

The hook in his chest tightened further.

Painful.

Yet strangely comforting.

His fingers moved unconsciously, as though wanting to reach for something.

Instead, he looked away.

“The wound looks frightening, but it’s not that serious. It didn’t damage any organs. A few days of rest and I’ll recover.”

Naturally, Fan Changyu didn’t believe a word of it.

Looking at his pale face still stained with blood, she suddenly felt overwhelmingly sad.

“Stop being a soldier.”

“Come back with me.”

“I’ll slaughter pigs and support you.”

Just as Gongsun Yin and the physician arrived outside the tent and reached for the curtain—

They both froze in place.