Chapter 11: Tonight, the West Wind Enters Min Pass

At midnight, the sound of dripping water lingered, and a biting cold wind swept through. Suddenly, an excited low growl echoed from within the Changle Palace.

“Good! Excellent!”

King Qing, Ling Zhun, wrapped in his imperial yellow robe, leaned against the bed, clutching the detailed military report just delivered from the frontlines. He laughed heartily but was soon interrupted by a fit of coughing: truly, my little Ninth Prince possesses extraordinary courage and skill—no ordinary man, indeed. He nodded contentedly, a faint smirk curling his lips: “A thousand pieces of gold can be easily obtained, but a capable general is rare. To take Qi and Feng states without losing a single soldier, to seize Shangling Pass without breaking a single arrow—General Fu Bo, you mentioned only six-tenths of the truth, didn’t you? There’s always room for more.”

“Your Majesty.” A soft, coquettish voice emerged from the bed, accompanied by a pale arm reaching out from beneath the warm covers. “Your Majesty, it’s late. You can deal with this tomorrow—the report won’t run away. Your Majesty~”

King Qing sharply turned his gaze, his tone stern. “De Xian.”

Outside the curtain, the attending eunuch sighed helplessly: this master of theirs probably wouldn’t live much longer, alas. He lightly exhaled and gestured behind him. Two young eunuchs quickly picked up a thin blanket, heads bowed as they carefully entered the inner chamber. Inside, King Qing stood beside the bed, casting a disdainful glance at the trembling figure in the bed. With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve and strode away.

“Your Majesty!” A terrified cry followed him. “Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! Please don’t send me away!” Her sobs rang out, evoking pity from anyone who heard them.

King Qing closed his eyes, stretching his arms as De Xian attended to him, ignoring her pleas entirely.

“That’ll do, Your Majesty.”

Ling Zhun stepped out of the sleeping quarters and briskly made his way toward the Imperial Study, deep in thought: Mm, Wang Zhongwen is indeed a renowned general—he deserves a third-rank title. But who is this Feng Yunqing? He paused mid-step, hands clasped behind his back as he stood in the corridor, frowning at the night sky. Is he one of Little Nine’s people? Or perhaps one of Third Prince’s? Ling Zhun lowered his head, pacing back and forth. Or could he belong to Seventh Prince? Tsk, he pursed his lips: for now, let’s assign him a nominal position and see how things unfold.

“De Xian.” His tone carried the chill of late autumn. “Summon Minister Luo from the Ministry of Justice.”

“Yes.”

King Qing narrowed his sharp eyes, pressing his lips tightly together. Treason during wartime—hah! He exhaled heavily, his eyes brimming with murderous intent: I’ll find out who gave you the audacity to betray me!

Dazedly licking my parched lips, I felt an unbearable thirst. My body ached as if every bone had been dislocated, utterly exhausted. Stretching my limbs, I yawned deeply and slowly opened my eyes.

“Mm~ Finally awake.” An enlarged handsome face loomed close, those enchanting eyes locking onto mine, momentarily stealing my breath. “Heh~” The warmth of his breath brushed against my face, making my pores tighten. Gasping sharply, I pushed him away forcefully. Hurriedly sitting up, I checked my clothes—no trace of blood. Staring at him accusingly, could this rogue have changed my clothes?

Ling Yiran brushed off his sleeves and bent over as he approached. Bent over?! Glancing around, I suddenly felt a jolt beneath me—it was a carriage. “Tat, tat, tat...” The rhythmic sound of hooves and hurried footsteps echoed outside; we were clearly on the move.

“What an ungrateful young lady,” Yunzhi reclined on the soft seat, his dark eyes gleaming, neither accusing nor amused. “I specially arranged this carriage for you, sacrificing the loyalty I worked so hard to earn, all while bearing the accusation of indulging in comfort.” He raised his eyebrows, blinking playfully. “To use me and then push me away—it truly hurts.”

What nonsense! I glared at him angrily, mumbling through gritted teeth: “Who... who changed my clothes?”

“It was me~” He grinned triumphantly, his gaze roaming over me, a suggestive smirk curling his lips.

“You!” Flustered and enraged, I frantically searched for Xiaohun .

“I had someone else change them for you.” His mischievous laughter filled the air. “Such impatience, hahaha~”

Hair loose, I sat down crossly. “Hmph!” Shooting him a sidelong glare, I snapped irritably, “Was it a man or a woman?”

Yunzhi’s smile faded, his gaze piercing as he leaned closer, his body lowering inch by inch. “Qingqing, do you think I’d let another man see your body?” The intensity of his presence forced me to lean backward. “Mm~” Just as I was about to fall back onto the couch, I quickly rolled away, escaping his oppressive aura. Standing up, I smoothed my hair and demanded angrily, “Where’s my mask?”

He lounged on the couch, his posture arrogant and self-assured, exuding an air of inevitability. Eyes wide, I lifted my chin and asked with equal determination, “Where’s my mask?”

Yunzhi’s flirtatious gaze shifted to the small table inside the carriage. Walking over, he picked up the jar of Bi Lu ointment and carefully applied it to my face as instructed by Zhuque.

“Qingqing, you’ve reached the age of sixteen, haven’t you?” His tone held no trace of jest, completely serious.

Sixteen. My hands froze mid-motion, my body tensing: the hardest day of the year had finally passed...

“I’ll give you a gift, shall I?” His voice grew closer as I affixed the mask, turning to face him. My heart sank with uncertainty: was this a memorial offering or a birthday present?

His heterochromatic eyes radiated an unmistakable dominance, his voice charged with tension. “Five years from now, I’ll give you an Eighth Day of the Eighth Month free of war.”

My heart trembled at his words, staring at him intently, my eyes stinging slightly. A peaceful Eighth Day of the Eighth Month—would such a day truly come? My gaze wavered, yearning for his affirmation.

Ling Yiran raised his palm, his expression resolute. “I, Ling Yiran, have always valued my word. Once promised, I will never break it. Let us seal it with a clap.”

Slowly raising my hand, I hesitated. Before I could act, his pale palm struck mine firmly.

“Clap!” A tingling sensation spread through my palm, the crisp sound reverberating in my chest.

The corners of Yunzhi’s lips curled higher, his gaze growing increasingly hazy. Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently, throwing me off balance. I fell backward, but he swiftly wrapped his arms around my waist. Just as we seemed to stabilize, another abrupt stop sent us crashing to the floor. My lower back, already bruised from earlier, took another painful blow. Attempting to roll over and rub the sore spot, I felt a heavy weight pinning me down. Turning my head, I saw Yunzhi half-sprawled atop me, his crown askew, long black hair cascading down, tickling my cheek. Hands pressed against his chest, I commanded tersely, “Get up.”

His dazzling eyes burned into mine, filled with undisguised greed. Struggling to push him off, I found his hands planted firmly on either side of my neck, his expression and movements resembling that of a predatory beast. His hair slowly draped down, the pressure intensifying. Taking a deep breath—I couldn’t tolerate this any longer! Grasping his collar with both hands, I raised my knee and, with a burst of qi, flung him off.

“Bang!” The carriage rocked twice, and I quickly rose, kneeling and glaring down at him, my eyes blazing with fire. “Behave yourself.”

“Heh“ His tone dipped suggestively.

At that moment, the carriage curtain was abruptly pulled back, blinding sunlight pouring in. “Prin—” The voice trailed off weakly.

Turning my head, I saw a row of faces—some sun-darkened, others pale—all painted with astonishment. What was going on? Raising an eyebrow, I glanced at my disheveled clothes, then at the rogue beneath me, who looked like a carefree spring blossom. Our intertwined hair and positions made it seem as though we’d been caught in a compromising situation—not lovers, but rather… disgraceful.

Helplessly releasing my grip, I knelt halfway upright. Liu Yao, who had been standing by the carriage, finally snapped out of her daze and hastily drew the curtain shut. Even so, through the fabric, I could still feel their piercing stares.

“Hehehe~” Yunzhi lay sprawled on the carriage floor, his brows curved in amusement.

Glaring at him furiously, I snapped, “What are you laughing at!”

This only fueled his amusement further. Leaning back casually, he slapped the carriage wall and erupted into uncontrollable laughter. “Hahahaha~”

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

Fuming, I shot him a final glare before stepping out of the carriage, my face burning under the lingering gazes of those around us. Following Yunzhi into the main tent, I pouted and called out softly, “Brother.”

My brother, clad in silver armor, rose and greeted Yunzhi with a respectful bow. Then, turning to me with a stern expression, he said, “Qingqing, return to Yundu. The battlefield is dangerous—it’s no place for a young lady.”

Straightening my back, I met his gaze head-on, my voice steady. “In my current state, do I resemble a woman at all?”

“Nonsense!” My brother’s face was hard and unyielding. “Looking like a man is one thing, but whether you truly are is another. If I weren’t afraid of your true identity being discovered, I would’ve left you in Fancheng long ago!”

I glared at him defiantly. “Even if Brother had left me in Fancheng, I still would’ve followed you here!”

“You!” My brother was momentarily speechless, his frustration evident.

“Brother,” I tugged gently on his sleeve, softening my tone. “Although Yang Fengqi has been exposed, there’s no guarantee there aren’t other spies lurking. I may not excel in everything, but when it comes to martial arts, I’m quite confident.” I shook his arm for emphasis, adding fuel to my plea. “I promise I won’t hold you back or complain about the hardships.”

“Sigh.” My brother patted my head. “It’s not that I’m worried about you slowing us down, silly girl.”

“Mm, I understand that Brother doesn’t want me to get hurt or suffer.” My eyes trembled faintly as I spoke slowly. “But isn’t that exactly how I feel too?”

“Zhusu, let her stay,” Yunzhi interjected lazily from where he sat at the desk, propping his chin on one hand. “The decoy strategy in Fancheng truly impressed me...” His dark eyes gleamed suspiciously. “If you’re worried about Qingqing’s true identity being revealed, why not let her stay in my tent? It’s the safest place.”

What?! I shot him a furious glare.

My brother contemplated this for a moment before sighing. “Then I’ll trouble Your Highness with her care.”

“Brother!” I protested immediately.

“Qingqing, only the Prince’s tent is both the safest and most comfortable,” my brother said helplessly.

“No!” I scoffed, glaring at the smug rogue. “I want to stay with Brother.” As if I could sleep soundly in his tent!

“Fine then.” Yunzhi shrugged indifferently, glancing at me casually. “If Qingqing doesn’t mind being seen by the men constantly coming in and out of Zhusu’s tent, then I won’t bother interfering.”

“Your Highness!” My brother bowed deeply. “Please forgive Qingqing. Zhusu’s tent is also the command center—how can an unmarried young lady stay among so many men?” He shot me a stern look. “Qingqing, apologize!”

I glanced sideways at the rogue, whose eyebrows twitched slightly as he smirked triumphantly. “Alright, since Zhusu insists, I’ll reluctantly agree.” Reluctantly? Clearly, he was delighted. I rolled my eyes at him.

“Does Zhusu plan to set up camp here?” Yunzhi straightened, all traces of jest gone from his face.

“Yes.” My brother answered solemnly. “The soldiers have been marching nonstop for over ten days—it’s time to regroup and rest. Moreover...” He walked to the map, his gaze far-reaching. “The states we’ve captured so far were all former You territories, places already rife with discontent and unstable governance. In military terms, they’re ‘light lands’—easy to seize. But once we pass through Min Pass...” He circled a spot on the map. “We’ll penetrate deep into Jing territory. Before then, we must ensure our forces are fully rested and ready to win this decisive battle. We must enter the ‘heavy land’ with overwhelming momentum!”

“Mm.” Yunzhi nodded. “Zhusu, you have full authority. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will Your Highness not stay to oversee the military discussions?” My brother’s eyes showed a hint of confusion.

Yunzhi’s lips curved upward, his gaze piercing. “A master of warfare plans; I trust you.”

My brother’s brows softened with emotion as he bowed deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness!”

Ah, the art of leadership... I gazed thoughtfully at those profound peach-blossom eyes. Yunzhi, Yunzhi—if only you weren’t the one destined for the throne, what a pity that would be.

In the blink of an eye, he was already beside me, his teasing voice whispering in my ear: “Why are you staring at me so intently?” He gazed at me seductively, his lips curling mischievously. “Have you fallen for me?”

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and repeated silently: calm heart, steady spirit. Calm heart, steady spirit.

“Come on, let’s go to our tent~”

I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore his deliberately playful tone. Casting a pitiful glance at my brother, I reluctantly followed him away.

It really hurt. I rubbed my bruised waist—it must’ve turned black and blue by now. Accidentally pressing too hard, I couldn’t help but hiss in pain. “Sss~”

“What’s wrong?” Yunzhi stopped his light steps, frowning as he turned to look at me.

“It’s nothing,” I muttered dismissively.

He narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction, slowly approaching. Suddenly, he reached out and touched my waist. “Ow!” My scalp tingled, and I cried out in anger. The surrounding area fell eerily silent. Soldiers who had been busy setting up tents stood frozen, hammers and wooden stakes in hand, staring at us wide-eyed. I stepped back angrily, clutching my waist.

“What happened?” Yunzhi’s voice was low.

I scowled. “It was already injured earlier, and it got worse in the carriage just now.”

“Oh!” Muffled chuckles erupted around us, and looking up, I saw excitement dancing in everyone’s eyes.

Perplexed, I raised an eyebrow: Why did everyone’s eyes suddenly seem to gleam green?

Yunzhi glanced around, understanding flashing across his face. A wicked grin spread across his lips. “It’s all my fault.” He turned slightly, leaning in as if whispering, though his voice carried clearly. “Tonight, I’ll make sure to compensate you well~” As soon as he finished, the soldiers who had been eavesdropping scrambled to attention, their movements lightning-fast.

Confused, I scanned the circle of faces, pondering for a long while without understanding. Raising an eyebrow toward the sky, I sighed deeply: What a strange place the military camp is. Yes, far too strange.

After dinner, I wandered alone through the camp. In the distance, the mountains gradually blended into the night. The wind carried a chill as it swept across the plains, and wisps of smoke rose from cooking fires. The fragrance of food wafted from the tents.

The vast expanse of the plain under the night sky, the watchtowers flickering with torchlight, banners fluttering in shadow. The encampment brimmed with warriors, shallow waters teeming with fierce fish, ambition soaring to the heavens.

Tonight, the west wind enters Min Pass; tomorrow, spears will chase the moon’s reflection. Come morning, autumn dust will stain our temples, and with a single whip crack, we’ll charge straight toward Leihexi.

I looked up at the moon, bathed in its silvery glow, savoring the tranquility before the storm.

“Damn it, times have changed!” A rough laugh came from a nearby tent. “I used to despise men who acted effeminate, but damn, this Master Feng has made me eat my words!” Master Feng? Are they talking about me? Unable to resist, I paused to listen.

“Not kidding!” A loud slap echoed as someone smacked their thigh. “Damn it! Erzi, stop laughing! If you laugh again, I’ll beat you!”

“All right, all right, Old Du, Old Ma, don’t get mad—I’ll stop laughing, okay?”

“You little bastards, stop acting like you’re constipated. Old Du and I were inside the city walls when it happened. You don’t know how dire the situation was. Just a glance down at the city gates—damn! The place was packed with enemies. If it had come to a fight, we’d have been no match for them. But Master Feng didn’t bat an eye or flinch, not even once...”

“Wasn’t Old Ma hiding in Master Feng’s arms? How do you know his heart wasn’t racing?”

“Hahahaha~” Laughter erupted inside the tent.

“Brat, I’ll teach you to run your mouth!” Sounds of scuffling followed.

“Okay, okay, I’ll shut up. I won’t say another word, all right?”

“Sit tight!” The somewhat hoarse male voice spoke again. “With a wave of Master Feng’s hand, bam! The city gates slammed shut. Then the brothers lying in wait in the woods gave it their all—beating drums, shouting, making noise. Those Yong soldiers were completely dumbfounded, especially their leader. Like a startled rat, he scrambled out of his carriage, trembling as he climbed onto his horse. The sight was utterly pathetic.”

“Mm.” Another male voice chimed in. “Old Du and I weren’t part of that group—we were tasked with chasing down the stragglers inside the city. About a thousand men had entered, but after our brothers hacked away at them, only two hundred or so remained by the time they reached the northern gate. Just as I was about to join in for some more fun, Captain Liu stopped us, saying someone else would handle it. We were confused at first—who? Later, we found out it was Master Feng alone guarding the northern gate. Two hundred men! A scholar-turned-warrior taking on a hundred men each—that’s real guts!”

“Really... he did it all by himself?” The questioner’s tone was skeptical.

“Really! I saw General Han and the Prince rush to the northern gate, then carry back an unconscious Master Feng. Only when we cleaned up the battlefield did we realize that outside the northern gate, there wasn’t a single one of our brothers—only Yong soldiers. Especially that sharp-eyed bastard who led the charge into the city—he was impaled on a tree. His death was truly pathetic.”

“No wonder!” An excited voice chimed in. “No wonder Master Feng could overpower the Prince—it turns out he has real skill.” The emphasis on the word “real” carried a strange undertone—one that made me feel uneasy.

“Hahaha“ The laughter grew increasingly strange. “Who knows which one is yin and which one is yang when they’re in bed together?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Didn’t we all see it today? Master Feng was on top!”

“No! The people from the northern camp said the Prince is stronger—they heard it with their own ears this afternoon.”

“Damn it, if I say Master Feng is yang, then he’s yang!”

“Nonsense! Do you think someone of royal blood can be dominated so easily?”

Hearing this, I finally understood. My cheeks flushed red, and I shot a furious glare at the white tent: why couldn’t they think about something decent for once instead of these absurd things? Huffing in anger, I turned around and stormed back toward the camp. The more I thought about it along the way, the angrier I became. Those words Yunzhi had spoken earlier this afternoon were clearly deliberate! This troublemaker who thrived on chaos! My breath turned icy, my steps swift as I ignored the guards’ salutes, flung open the tent flap, and charged inside, seething with rage.

Yunzhi, his hair loose, lounged lazily on a low couch. He glanced at me with a smirk, turning a page of his book. “Finally back, eh? Any later and the water would’ve gone cold.”

Hmm? Water? I walked past the makeshift screen made of canvas and saw a large wooden tub placed on the ground. Liu Yao was pouring water into it from a wooden bucket. “Miss is back—your bath is ready. Please wait just a moment.” Peering over, I saw Yunzhi half-covering his face, the exposed eye glinting faintly with amusement.

My brows furrowed slightly, and I reluctantly muttered, “Thank you.”

He set the book down, his dark eyes gleaming unnaturally. “You’re welcome~”

“Miss, these are items the Prince instructed me to prepare for you. The camp isn’t like home, so please bear with it.” Liu Yao handed me a package, flashing his endearing fang-like teeth.

“Mm, thank you for your trouble.” I took the package and nodded.

He scratched his head and slipped behind the screen. “Your Highness.”

“Mm, go stand guard at the entrance.”

“Yes.”

I retrieved some clean clothes from my bag, let down my hair, and cautiously glanced outside. Yunzhi appeared perfectly composed, holding his book with a normal expression on his face. Turning back, I opened the package: scented soap, a loofah, and even a roll of cotton cloth—all quite decent for a battlefield. Upon closer inspection of the cotton cloth, my face burned crimson. This... this wasn’t what I thought it was, was it? I hastily stuffed the item back into my bag and glanced around nervously. Such intimate supplies—he really went out of his way.

I quickly shed my clothes and slid into the water. Steam rose in waves from the tub, and I took a deep breath, submerging myself fully to let the warmth seep into every inch of my skin. Opening my eyes underwater, I watched my long hair float and sway gently with the ripples—a comforting sensation. After a while, I surfaced with a smile, picked up the scented soap, and began lathering my wet hair.

“Perfumed mist drifts as clouds fall from silk robes~” A slow, teasing recitation came from outside. Ignoring it, I scrubbed my skin vigorously with the loofah.

“A bashful, delicate beauty moves with grace“ He lingered suggestively on the final syllable, “Hair like clouds, dyed with ink, a single strand of jade.”

I tilted my head, slightly puzzled, and continued bathing. Footsteps approached, pacing back and forth nearby. “Blushing cheeks, drowsy eyes glisten~” Unconsciously, I gazed at my reflection in the water, gently touching my flushed cheeks, blinking my slightly hazy eyes. “Skin like congealed fat, voice sweet as glutinous rice.”

Holding my breath, I slowly submerged myself again. Eyes wide open underwater, I savored the warm tranquility. My long hair floated like serpents around me. When I ran out of air, I emerged, resting against the edge of the tub and panting softly. “A faint sigh escapes, twin dimples clouded with sorrow~” I abruptly stood, dried off quickly, and dressed. With damp hair flowing loose, I clutched my bag, flung open the screen, and glared at him furiously.

Yunzhi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his handsome eyes gleaming with an unusual light. His gaze was so brazen that I instinctively touched my chest: Hmm, it’s tied tightly, yes, it’s secure. I exhaled in relief.

His thin lips curled into a smirk, his tone sending a shiver down my spine: “Radiant beauty, slightly intoxicated, stirs the soul~”

I shot him a glare, climbed onto my bed, and extinguished the candle with a wave of my hand.

“Hehe~” His irritating laughter rang out. “What? Don’t you like Ni Sizhan’s poetry?”

“Lewd verses!” I snapped angrily.

“Pity. I hadn’t finished the last part yet. It goes something like, Red Mansion, farewell on a spring night; dawn dew moistens the creeping vines. “

Unable to endure any longer, I roared, “Sleep!”

“Hahahaha~” His arrogant laughter echoed through the darkness.

Nightmares, Tonight, there would only be nightmares!