Chapter 10

This horse has followed him for five years, accustomed to galloping freely across the vast fields. How could it possibly endure being confined within these high red walls of the city, unable to unleash its restlessness

On that occasion, he shot a total of five people and captured three fine Northern Army horses, sustaining only two knife wounds to his chest. After the battle, he was directly summoned to Feng Hui's tent, and due to his merits, he was admitted into the distant reconnaissance cavalry. Feng Hui instructed him to choose one of the three captured Northern Army horses as his mount, and he selected the horse that had not yet been gelded and was so temperamental that no one could control it.

She said: "The general has saved His Highness the Third Prince's life, and naturally, His Highness regards the general as a trusted commander. He wishes to retain the general to assist in his endeavors, but the king may not necessarily be willing to see the general become the personal commander of His Highness alone. If the general wishes to relieve the Third Prince's personal guards of their duties, it cannot be done without the king's consent. However, the general is young and often exceeds the bounds of propriety in military matters, which will certainly cause the king to have many concerns. If the general intends to return to the military front after resigning, he must carefully consider how to respond before the king during tomorrow's audience." The general, if he wishes to relieve the Third Prince's personal guards of their duties, cannot do so without the king's consent. However, the general is young and often exceeds the bounds of propriety in military matters, which will certainly cause the king to have many concerns. If the general intends to return to the military front after resigning, he must carefully consider how to respond before the king during tomorrow's audience.

Qin clasped her hands together within her wide sleeves, her wrists pale and delicate, which appeared even more so against the backdrop of the night. A hint of surprise crossed her face: "Does General Ye know who I am?"

Ye Zeng's thoughts were still trapped in the words she had just spoken, and without answering, she countered with a question: "Miss Qin does not regard His Highness the Crown Prince as her beloved?"

Subsequently, this horse followed him from the Yongpei camp to the Hebei camp, and then accompanied him from the Hebei camp to the capital of this country. Whether traversing the rugged mountains and forests or moving across the vast plains, and from the cold-blooded battlefield to the warm palaces and splendid halls, it never left his side for a single day

Qin Yixiao smiled, raised her hand to brush aside her long hair that had been tousled by the wind, turned to look into the distance, and said: "The maidservant from my residence has been waiting for me at the west gate of the palace for quite some time."

Ye Zeng tightened his right hand and turned his head to see it impatiently twisting its neck and mane. He immediately scolded it softly a couple of times and reached out to pat its back, attempting to soothe it

As soon as Qin caught sight of his tightly knitted thick brows, he asked him: "Staying at Bizhi is certainly much more comfortable than being in the camp in Hebei. Does the general really want to return to the front lines?"

The general wishes to return to the military front," she looked at him again, "but does His Highness the Third Prince intend to allow the general to return to the military front... One must understand that entering the capital to pay respects at the court is not a privilege that just any border general can enjoy, and how could the general, as the commander of His Highness's personal guards, not follow His Highness closely?

The horse suddenly flicked its long tail violently, followed by a heavy snort.

Qin Yi gazed at him for a moment, then took a step back. She did not respond to his words, but smiled as she turned and walked alone towards the west gate of the royal palace

The royal city was quiet and solemn, and as the cold winter wind blew, the night sky seemed to press down at an angle, further constricting the already oppressive palace, making it increasingly difficult to breathe

Ye Zeng pondered for a long time after listening, and then slowly raised his eyes to say: "Thank you, Miss Qin"

He could no longer withdraw his gaze

She turned her gaze and softly said, "When I first heard about the general's great victory over Liang Yin's forces and his slaying of Liang Yin, there were indeed people who claimed that the general possessed divine strength, stood eight feet tall, and had three heads and six arms... Aren't these rumors also true?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yi gradually ceased his laughter, and his gaze towards him became somewhat nuanced

Ye Zeng fell silent for a moment and said: "Miss Qin is indeed quite knowledgeable about worldly affairs. However, although the troops of Yongpei suffer, it cannot compare to the hardships endured by the mountain people in the Yongpei region."

Ye Zengding gazed at her intently, feeling that this smile was as vibrant as the red color, having already penetrated to the deepest part of his heart. Although he did not know how to return this gesture, he ultimately spoke up and said: "Miss Qin"

He was born into a family of hunters and grew up in poverty, often facing times when the entire family could not afford a single meal. However, he developed excellent archery skills from a young age. In the year he turned fourteen, during a famine, his family fled in search of food, but his parents succumbed to illness along the way. He carried only half a bag of water and, alone, traversed the mountain paths for four days and nights with a short bow on his back. Upon reaching the garrison of Yongpei, he waited outside for two days and nights before being exceptionally recruited into the army, becoming a mounted archer in the vanguard camp.

Ye Zeng lowered his eyes and said, "If Miss Qin has anything to teach me, I would certainly be willing to hear the details."

He stood alone holding the horse for a long time, and only then did he come to his senses, lowering his head and gripping the reins tightly, intending to lead the horse forward again

It was only after he entered the Yongpei Camp that he realized that in the military, it was often the case of having eaten one meal but not knowing when the next would come. The supplies of firewood, grass, and armor were never replenished, and it was particularly difficult to sustain a large number of warhorses in the mountainous areas. Although he was known as an archer and cavalryman, he had never owned a single warhorse that belonged solely to him.

She surprisingly neither recoiled nor dodged, allowing him to stare at her in what could be considered an impolite manner. After a while, she merely pressed her lips together and moved her eyebrows.

Ye Zengmeng tugged at the reins, and after several stern admonitions, he managed to calm the horse down a bit. He then took it to the archery range of the royal palace, which was unused during the winter, and ran several laps with it. Once he noticed that the horse was no longer as restless and agitated as before, he loosened the reins and led it back along the path they had come.

Until the year I turned sixteen, I was dispatched to suppress the bandits

Ye Zeng was speechless for a long time. He finally said, "At the palace banquet, I did not pay attention to so many women."

Qin raised the corner of his mouth and sighed lightly, saying, "Indeed, a straightforward nature. If the general truly wishes to return to the front lines, I have a few words to share, though I wonder if the general is willing to listen"

Ye Zengyi was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.

Ye Zeng regained his composure and shook his head, "I am merely a rough man; how could I possibly name a horse"

Before taking a few steps, I noticed several maidservants surrounding a person who was walking slowly towards us

Only after she had walked far out of sight did he turn around and slowly release the reins of the horse, which had become somewhat heated from his grip

Ye Zeng immediately took the reins and turned around, saying, "I will escort Miss Qin over there"

"When I first saw this horse," Qin Yi stepped forward a couple of paces and examined it closely, "I felt that it was very different from the horses I usually see. Would the general be willing to tell me about its origins?"

Thus, one person and one horse have continued until this very moment

Yet behind him came the voice of a woman calling to him, like the gentle flow of water through the heart

This remark can certainly be considered aggressive, yet he himself remains unaware of it

Qin lowered her eyelids slightly, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth: "I am well aware that the men of the border army are rough and unconcerned with trivialities, but I did not expect the general to be so straightforward in his demeanor. Such a candid nature must find living in this royal palace and noble residence quite suffocating."

Ye Zeng's expression changed suddenly, clearly having never heard such rumors. He stood frozen for a long time before suddenly speaking: "At the palace banquet, I was watching Miss Qin alone the entire time"

As soon as the horse emerged from the stable, it became restless, prancing and swishing its tail along the way, its excitement difficult to express, resembling a foolish creature eager to dash out of the royal city

Qin observed his expression, seemingly able to discern his distraction, and thus smiled as he changed the subject, saying, "Does this horse have a name?"

...has not yet.

Seeing him frozen in silence, she slightly bowed to him and called out, "General Ye." As her words fell, a light smile appeared at the corner of her mouth

Ye Zeng looked at her and said: "In the first year of the Yuan Guang era, there was a rebellion in the mountainous area under the jurisdiction of the Yong Pei camp. This horse was captured by me from the bandits at that time. It is a genuine steed from the North Land, originally purchased by the Xiu Kingdom from the barbarian Olon tribe across the sea, but was robbed while passing through Suohe Mountain and fell into the hands of the bandits. When this group of bandits wandered to the west of Suohe Mountain, they happened to encounter my army, which was dispatched, and in one battle, they were completely eradicated."

The Lock River Mountain Range runs north-south, spanning the northeastern part of the Eastern Continent, and serves as the boundary between the states of Zhong and Lan. The Jinbei Corridor in Shandong has always been the most fertile grain-producing area of Lanzhou, and the wealth of the Xiu Kingdom largely depends on this; whereas Shanxi is characterized by narrow, rugged mountainous terrain, harsh climate, poor geology, and inconvenient transportation. The mountain people of the Chun Kingdom residing here have traditionally lived as hunters for generations, leading extremely impoverished lives, particularly in the Yongpei area. However, despite Yongpei's treacherous terrain making farming difficult, it is a strategic stronghold for the Chun Kingdom, controlling the Lock River Mountain area and overlooking the borders of the three states of Lanzhou, Jin, and Xiu. As a result, a large number of troops have been stationed there year after year. The transportation of grain, supplies, and equipment to the Yongpei camp has become a significant challenge for the three departments of the Chun Kingdom over the years.

She clearly saw him as well, and as she approached, she turned her head slightly to glance at him, her gaze gently brushing across his face

But now others are coming to an end, having seen the most magnificent houses of the Pure Nation, tasted the most delicious dishes of the Pure Nation, and drunk the finest wines of the Pure Nation... and he has also encountered this woman whom he had never hoped to meet.

The night breeze gently lingers, stirring the crimson mark on his heart, a chilling sensation that penetrates deeply.

Ye Zeng furrowed his brow, and for some reason, he suddenly recalled that day in the military tent of the camp when Meng Shouwen, with a smile that was neither fully a smile nor fully not, asked him—have you ever thought about the end of the past

Although he did not understand why she would主动 engage him in conversation, he did not intend to ask. He simply stood straight in place, gazing intently at her face, as if he wanted to imprint her serene and tranquil visage along with that hint of red and her light smile deep into his heart

At that time, he was determined to join the military, primarily to avoid starving to death

He gazed at her smile, "Indeed, there is not a moment I do not wish to return to the front lines."

Ye Zeng stepped forward, getting a little closer to her, and asked in a low voice: "Will I be able to see Miss Qin again tomorrow?"

Since October 27, when Meng Shouwen left the main camp heading north, he has not had a moment without missing the brothers in arms who fought bloodily alongside him, nor has he had a moment without longing to return to the cold, hard, and damp tents of the main camp

Qin Yi, however, asked: "Who says I have already promised to the Sixth Prince?"

Qin Yi further remarked: "The general may not know that after the two reports of victory from the Hebei camp arrived in the capital, the entire city was eager to catch a glimpse of General Ye Zeng, to see what kind of man could single-handedly slay Liang Yin and lead three thousand troops to defeat nearly ten thousand enemies. Tonight, as the general accompanies His Highness the Third Prince into the palace for the banquet, little does he know how many court officials regard him as a worthy son-in-law, wishing to marry off their daughters to him. Nor does he know how many women have been captivated by the general's charisma, secretly pledging their hearts to him. If the general claims to be a rough man, then our Chun Kingdom has yet to see such a rough man."

In the dimly lit royal stable located at the northwest corner of the palace, the guards stood to one side holding candles, carefully watching as Ye Zeng personally came to feed the horses their night hay. They could only watch as Ye Zeng untied the reins and led the warhorse out of the stable, not daring to say much or approach him, but silently closing the door behind him, allowing him to leave without inquiry.

General Ye

Suddenly, a heat surged in his heart, as if strong liquor had entered his belly, with a spicy sensation rising.

Then it suddenly occurred to him that he had indeed forgotten to ask her why she had taken the initiative to speak to him tonight

Why? she asked again

Qin listened attentively, his gaze lingering on his face. "It turns out that General Ye hails from Yongpei Camp... I have heard people mention that when it comes to the hardships faced by the border troops of Chunguoguo, none are more severe than those at Yongpei Camp. Those who come from Yongpei Camp are often individuals of strong will and courage, capable of enduring hardships that others cannot."

He said: "I will not speak those pleasant words either. Ultimately, I feel that the thirteen towns of Henan are still in the hands of the army, and the defenses on the southern bank of the river in Henan have yet to be solidified. If I were to stay here at this moment, I would always be unable to let go of the matters in the southern border."

Ye Zengyi raised an eyebrow, looking at her, but said nothing further

"Rude person?" Qin Yi smiled and lowered his gaze, "The general has not seen tonight's palace banquet, where many ladies are praising the general for his exceptional bravery and youthful heroism"

Ye Zeng nodded without a second thought

After the banquet has concluded, a considerable amount of time has passed

If a horse is like this, how much more so is he

She shook her head and said, "There is no need to trouble the general." Then she smiled again, "I am often summoned to the palace to converse with the queen, so I usually enter and exit through the west gate of the palace, rather than the south gate used by ordinary ladies. Tomorrow, I must rise early to enter the palace for the queen's monthly fasting and prayer. So, let us part ways here tonight, General."

The palaces here are few and far between, and it is certainly not the path for the ladies of the banquet to exit the palace. He furrowed his brow, not yet having thought it through, but he knew he was already unable to evade the situation, so he grasped the reins and steadied himself sideways

Qin Yixiao smiled, "How many beauties are there at the palace banquet, yet the general seems to have taken no notice. Could it be true, as the rumors say, that he has an ambiguous relationship with the Third Prince?"

Ye Zeng nodded slightly, thinking to himself that he not only knew that you were the most beloved granddaughter of Grand Tutor Qin, but also that you were the beloved of Meng Shouzheng, the eldest son of King Chun. Furthermore, he was aware that you had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, with a vast knowledge and remarkable memory, and that you were well-versed in the literary and ceremonial customs of the Northern Barbarian tribes and other foreign cultures.

Ye Zeng, however, did not notice the change in her gaze, and continued: "I know that Miss Qin has long been promised to the Crown Prince; this remark should be considered reckless. However, as a rough soldier from the border, I do not concern myself with the etiquette of the capital."

However, as soon as I raised my eyes, I caught sight of a splash of red among several people.

He suddenly turned around and saw that she was still standing behind him, not having left. He was momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to respond. Looking back again, he noticed that the other several maids had already gone far away, leaving her alone here.