WNST - 136

Chapter 136: Spring Beneath the Canopy

When Xie Queshan returned to his tent after the meeting, it was already deep into the night. To his surprise, Nan Yi had been waiting for him inside. 

Seeing him return, she pretended to look stern, though her anger had long since dissipated. She had spent the entire evening secretly worrying about the arrival of the imperial envoy. 

After such a long discussion, surely they had reached some kind of result, right? 

Knowing what weighed on her mind, Xie Queshan first gave her a reassuring smile. 

“The reinforcements will arrive soon.” 

“Really?” Nan Yi nearly leapt off her stool in shock. 

“You think I’d lie to you?” Xie Queshan replied lightly. 

Nan Yi eyed him skeptically. “How could it be resolved so easily?” 

“His Majesty trusts me and is determined to protect Lidu Prefecture. Isn’t that enough to make things easier?” 

Nan Yi remained half-convinced. “If His Majesty truly feels that way, why has the reinforcement been delayed for so long?” 

“To overcome opposition takes time.” 

“There’s definitely something you’re not telling me.” 

Xie Queshan sighed. Truly, he couldn’t deceive this sharp-witted girl. 

“Persuading the ministers isn’t easy, especially in these extraordinary times. We’ll need to use unconventional methods. The main army is stationed not far away in Huaishuo City across the river, but without orders, they won’t move toward Lidu Prefecture. However, if the Qi forces attack, they’ll mobilize to defend themselves…” 

Nan Yi immediately understood. “You’re planning to lure them out with false enemy intelligence?” 

Xie Queshan nodded. “Once we secure a decisive victory, we’ll apologize to the court later. But for now, it’s the quickest way to relieve the urgent crisis in Lidu Prefecture.” 

Nan Yi finally believed him and nodded. The fact that the envoy had proposed such a daring strategy suggested that the emperor had tacitly approved it. 

The tension in her chest eased slightly. She glanced up at Xie Queshan. Though he spoke of official matters, his gaze was fixed intently on her. She studied his eyes carefully—it was strange; there was no trace of sadness in them. After Lu Jinxiu’s harsh words, she had assumed he was masking his pain. 

Yet after returning from the camp discussions, he seemed completely transformed, all gloom lifted, his demeanor clear and unburdened. Could it really be true that reinforcements were coming? As these thoughts swirled in her mind, she suddenly became aware of the late hour and their solitary confinement within the tent. Military discipline was strict, and she normally wouldn’t enter his tent, but tonight was an exception. Sensing the subtle intimacy, she grew flustered. 

“Well then… I’ll leave.”

“Won’t you stay with me for a while?” He looked at her with an almost pitiful expression. 

In her heart, Nan Yi cursed herself for falling for his tricks. She had firmly told herself not to show him any kindness when she came, but now her heart had softened completely. 

What fault was his? He should have been the most justified person in this world—everyone owed him. But he was too dignified. He wouldn’t stoop to shouting back or engaging in futile struggles like she would. 

Forget it. Then she would be his voice, pushing back against those vicious words on his behalf. Even if the whole world condemned him, she would go to each and every one of them to clear his name. 

Her mind was resolved, yet she couldn’t help but secretly revel in the joy of being wanted by him. Still, she put on a facade of reluctance and pride. 

“How am I supposed to keep you company? This is a military camp.” 

He smiled. “What are you thinking about?” 

She hadn’t been thinking about anything until he said that, which made her face flush red. Here he goes again! Pretending to leave in a huff, she moved as if to storm out, but he quickly pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. 

His chin brushed against her shoulder, unexpectedly gentle. 

“Did you apply medicine to your face?” 

“It was Second Sister who knew to take care of me and applied it for me.” 

“I’m worried about you too.” 

“No one worries about me more than I do.” As she spoke, Nan Yi felt a genuine pang of grievance. She didn’t want to always feel this way. Perhaps it was because she empathized so deeply with his situation at every moment—her heart was entirely tied to his. She feared the moment he might give up on himself, or that she wouldn’t be able to pull him back. She desperately hoped everything would settle soon, no matter what. It had to be the outcome she envisioned; she wouldn’t accept any other possibility. 

He clung to her greedily. “Yes, what would I do without you?” 

Though spoken as teasing words, laced with laughter, they carried sincerity and vulnerability. He never spoke such sweet nothings in daily life, especially during battles when his face remained stern day after day. Yet tonight, his words were impossibly sweet. 

Perhaps the good news from the court had finally allowed him to breathe a little easier. 

Her body grew warm under his embrace, and her previously focused mind suddenly began to wander to inappropriate thoughts. 

Quickly halting her train of thought, she squirmed and wriggled out of his arms, pretending to be disgusted. “I just bathed at Wangxue Manor. How many days has it been since you last washed? If you hug me any longer, your smell will rub off on me.” 

Xie Queshan uncertainly sniffed his sleeve. “Do I really smell?” 

“Of course you do.” 

“Then you go to sleep first. I’ll go wash up by the river.” 

“Eh—” 

Before she could react, he swiftly grabbed his clothes from the rack and left the tent. 

What did he mean, “you go to sleep first”? Sleep here? What kind of nonsense was that? Outside the tent, people were constantly coming and going, and every sound could be heard clearly. If anyone saw them, who knows what rumors would spread! 

She certainly wasn’t staying here! 

When Xie Queshan returned, the candlelight in the tent had been extinguished, and the quilt bulged where someone lay inside. He silently grinned and carefully slipped into the bed. 

He wrapped his arms around her from behind. 

She pretended to be asleep, lying still, but she could feel the coldness of his clothes that hadn’t yet warmed against her back, carrying a hint of night breeze and river chill. Soon, that coolness turned scorching under his embrace. 

His breath lightly brushed against her neck—he must have run back, as his breathing was slightly heavy. 

It felt as though a thousand ants were leisurely crawling across her heart. 

He wasn’t asleep either. Though seemingly well-behaved as he held her, his hands wandered restlessly, slipping beneath her inner robe. 

Unable to bear it any longer, Nan Yi turned over to face him directly. 

Covering up her intentions, she sternly declared, “You’re not allowed to do anything. We’re just sleeping.” 

“Mm, of course.” 

His reply was absent-minded, his heated gaze fixed on her face in the darkness. She was like a flower within reach. 

No sooner had he agreed than he leaned in and captured her lips. 

This rogue! 

The resistance in her mind quickly crumbled under the intoxicating allure of the kiss, scattering her defenses like discarded armor. Too many things had happened recently, and the constant battles had kept everyone’s nerves taut. They hadn’t had a tender moment in so long, nor even the time to think about such intimate feelings. But once close, their instincts and desires were effortlessly awakened. Like floodgates opening, they surged uncontrollably, flooding every corner of their bodies. 

Soft, melting, burning, indulgent. 

They clung tightly to each other, the only sounds in the darkness their restrained rustling. His rough palms slipped beneath her robe, kneading her supple skin with abandon. 

She was kissed senseless, her mind clinging to the last shred of reason, thinking they could only go this far and no further. Layer by layer, her defenses were breached, until he skillfully removed her inner robe and buried his head in the snowy expanse of her chest, placing light kisses there. Naively, she still thought this was just a fleeting taste. 

He was too skilled at seduction—she nearly forgot where she was. 

“It can’t… we can’t do this…” 

Only then did he stop, reluctantly tilting his head to look at her. His dark eyes were filled with unmasked desire and longing. Once again, she was left speechless, retreating further. 

“Is it okay?” he whispered in her ear, his voice both pleading and tempting. 

She could only stammer out a faint “Mm.” 

He held her sideways, his movements extremely careful, but it was like scratching an itch through a boot—only providing fleeting relief. 

Outside, the flickering torchlight of patrolling soldiers approached, momentarily illuminating the tent. Nan Yi, startled, quickly lifted her waist to escape. 

Her heart pounding, she turned to face him, her eyes glistening with tears, damp strands of hair clinging to her cheeks. She pinched his hand in silent reproach for his recklessness, and he could only soothe her by kissing her cheek. 

“It’s fine. No one will come in…” He still tried to coax her. 

“You’re the one making all the noise…” she half-scolded, half-complained, her teary eyes pushing him away weakly.

He simply lifted her up by the waist. 

... 

Another flicker of torchlight passed outside, briefly illuminating the tent. The thrill of their secret encounter heightened both their guilt and excitement, as if every sense in their bodies had been pushed to its limit, intensifying the pleasure beyond what they usually experienced. 

Once the light faded and darkness enveloped them again, he suddenly lifted her up. 

She collapsed against his shoulder like a pear blossom battered by a sudden storm, utterly limp. 

He panted heavily, taking a long moment to catch his breath before gently laying her back on the bed. He wrung out a clean towel and carefully wiped away the sweat from her body. 

She was completely drained, unable to resist as he tended to her. The cool water soothed her overheated skin, bringing immense relief. 

“When this war is over, we’ll go home...” she murmured, already half-asleep, her words slurred and incoherent. “At home, we won’t have to sneak around anymore... I’m so tired...” 

He smiled faintly and lay down beside her, pulling her close as they shared the quilt and drifted off to sleep. 

Just before she slipped into unconsciousness, she thought she heard him whisper softly. 

“Nan Yi.” 

“Mm...” 

“I’m a terrible person.” 

His voice was so soft that the words brushed past her ear like a feather. By then, she was barely conscious enough to grasp their meaning. 

“Mm?” She let out another sleepy hum, nearly succumbing to sleep entirely. 

After a long pause, he gently patted her back. 

“It’s alright. Forget it.” 

... 

So tired. She couldn’t even open her eyes. 

She didn’t know how long she’d slept when she felt someone shaking her. She pushed the hand away, wanting nothing more than to continue sleeping. 

But he persisted, shaking her again. When she still didn’t wake, he leaned in and kissed her. 

The kiss jolted her awake, though only partially. Squinting through heavy lids, she saw Xie Queshan’s face inches from hers—was he really this energetic? 

Before she could fully regain consciousness, her hand instinctively reached down, but he deftly intercepted it. 

With an amused smirk, he propped himself up on one elbow. “The reconnaissance unit will have a mission soon. If you don’t leave now, your comrades will come looking for you.” 

It took a groggy Nan Yi a moment to process his words before she bolted upright, her face flushing red. She furiously wiped her mouth, partly embarrassed and partly irritated. 

“If you wanted to wake me up, why did you kiss me?!” 

Xie Queshan chuckled. “You still have half an incense stick’s time to get back.” 

In a panic, Nan Yi scrambled around the bed, searching for her clothes. Not even finding a single ribbon, she followed his teasing gaze and spotted her garments neatly hung on a rack. Too flustered to care about her nudity, she hastily climbed out of bed and rushed over. 

The first light of dawn had begun to creep in, exposing her disheveled state. His gaze was unapologetically direct, making her blush despite herself. In a futile attempt to shield herself, she shot him a glare. 

Snatching her clothes, she hurriedly pulled them on, but he continued to tease her, wrapping his arms around her from behind and nuzzling her neck, sending waves of tingling sensations across her skin. 

As she struggled to tie her sash, his hands lingered mischievously inside her robe. Finally losing patience, Nan Yi scolded him half-heartedly while pleading, “I’m running out of time!” 

Xie Queshan placed a tender kiss on her cheek before reluctantly releasing her. 

He wasn’t usually such a flirtatious man—what had gotten into him today? But there was no time to dwell on it. Hastily finishing dressing, she peeked cautiously around the tent, waiting for the coast to clear before darting out in a rush. 

That wretched, shameless man! Taking advantage of her and then mocking her like that!