Chapter 173 (1/2)

Chapter 173

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Chu Qiao's face turned bright red. Seeing the maidservants at the side laughing quietly to themselves, she pouted and exclaimed, ”What are you saying?”

”Don't laugh! Can't you see that General Chu is shy?” Yan Xun turned around and pretended to chide the maidservants, but they laughed even louder instead. He turned around towards Chu Qiao and shrugged, reaching out his hands. ”It's over. They are not listening to me anymore.”

”Nonsense. I won't talk to you anymore.” Chu Qiao turned around to walk back to her own room. Yan Xun laughed heartily and lifted her up from behind. ”I said I'd send you back. You deserve to be beaten up, defying the military order!”

After Yan Xun left, the room quietened down. Chu Qiao stayed in her own room, no longer feeling tired. Thinking of the events that happened just now, she blushed. She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She had no choice but to sit up, leaning against the table in a daze. After Yan Xun came back, things had seemingly become different. Their relationship had become more intimate, but other things had changed.

Thinking of what Yan Xun had said just now, Chu Qiao smiled. Perhaps, she had been overly paranoid. Men were all like that. They did not like their women to be on the battlefield, fighting at the frontline. Now that he was more powerful, he wished to protect her. She should have understood him and his intentions for her to live a peaceful life. Just like an ordinary lady, she would sip tea while admiring the flowers. She would wear silk and satin dresses while being attended to by her servants. She would live a luxurious life, in order to make amends for the hardships that she had suffered. Although this kind of life was not what she wanted, she felt obliged to grant his wish and understand his reasons. He did not deliberately intend to exclude her; he just wanted to protect her.

Chu Qiao felt better after thinking from this perspective. As she was about to drift to sleep, she heard footsteps outside her door. She pushed open her window, causing the cold air to drift in. Rows of lanterns drifted towards Yan Xun's door swiftly; it was evident that the mood of the people was tense.

”Lü Liu!” Chu Qiao called out. The maidservant ran over, still looking sleepy. ”Miss, what's the matter?”

”What's going on outside? It's so late already. Why are there so many people?”

”Oh, Miss. You don't know yet? Your Highness will be discussing military matters with the generals overnight. I think they are going to discuss the strategy for the war at the east. Those generals have waited outside the door for quite a while already.”

Chu Qiao was stunned upon hearing these words. The wind outside was strong, blowing on her clothes around her shoulder and messing up her long hair.

”Aiya, Miss! You just recovered! How can you be exposed to the wind?” the maidservant ran over and closed the window, calling out to her. ”Miss? Miss?”

”Ah?” Chu Qiao snapped out of her trance and replied, ”Oh, it's nothing. You can take your leave.”

Lü Liu looked at her suspiciously and remarked, ”Miss, are you really alright?”

”I'm alright. Go and sleep.”

”Oh.” Lü Liu obliged and added, ”Miss, sleep early too.”

Yan Xun's study was brightly lit. Chu Qiao looked there for a while, before snuggling into her blanket to sleep. Before she slept, she thought to herself: Did Yan Xun send me back to the room tonight so that he could discuss military matters? As she thought about it, she felt that being back in her own room was better. It would be noisy there, such that she could not sleep.

As she drifted in and out of sleep, an indescribable sense of panic and fear surged up her heart. Her heart felt unstable, like a floating boat being rocked about by the waves. However, after a while, the feeling slowly calmed down.

Chu Qiao woke up early the next day. She was troubled, and could not get back to sleep. In three days, Yan Xun would be leaving. She felt uneasy inside. Without even washing up, she ran to Yan Xun's room the first thing in the morning. However, she was told that he had gone to Luori Camp last night, and had not been back since.

After she finished her meal, Yan Xun was still not back. Having nothing to do, she sat in front of her study table in a daze. Her mind subconsciously started to visualize the Xia Empire's military distribution after the first northern conflict, as well as the comparisons between the intel, logistics, and weapons of both parties. An imaginary military map started to appear in her head.

As she was in deep thought, Lü Liu and Feng Zhi were laughing as they walked in. Lü Liu was holding a tablet in her hand. When she saw Chu Qiao, she chuckled and said, ”Miss, what do you think this is?”

Chu Qiao looked up and was stunned. It was a longevity tablet with her name and military position carved on it. Below that, small words, of congratulatory nature, were engraved on it.

”My longevity tablet?” Chu Qiao laughed and continued, ”Which of you did this? Is it to make me happy?”

Lü Liu remarked with joy, ”What are you saying? Feng Zhi bought this.”

”Bought this? Why would anyone be selling this?”