Chapter 2, Entering the City, Woman, Blade.

Unable to endure any longer?" Chang Yuqing said with a cold smile. Ever since he had lifted her onto the horse, he had been on guard, how could he allow a woman to seize the knife from him?

Fortunately, perhaps due to the proximity, the force of the arrow was not sufficient to pierce her shoulder. A-Mai thought with some relief that enduring such pain without being able to cry out was indeed a torment. However, at this moment, as a rural woman, she should have fainted, but the pain from the wound was too intense; she truly could not guarantee that she had the composure to faint. Therefore, she could only remain conscious for now

Then there is no need for the general to worry. Amay said with a cold smile, as if she were a fool. If it were just Zhang Erdan alone, he might still manage to sneak out of the city. But if a commoner from Nansha were to ride a warhorse from Beimo and successfully leave the city, then the soldiers guarding the city would all be fools.

One of his hands was still gripping her wrist resting at his side, while the other hand was pulling the cloak around her shoulders. The two of them were so close that even he could not see the curved dagger positioned between them at their waists

Amai, with tears streaming down her face, shrank back her body. Seeing Zhang Erdan being pinned down by the soldiers from Beimo, she crawled back to Chang Yuqing's horse, kneeling on the ground and repeatedly knocking her head. However, no sound came out of Zhang's wide-open mouth.

Cui Yan demonstrated his swordsmanship, but seeing that Chang Yuqing was not very enthusiastic, he felt somewhat bored himself. He then sheathed his sword and idly observed the Southern Xia people on the street. Suddenly, as if he had discovered something, he stealthily tapped Chang Yuqing's thigh with the back of his sword and whispered, "Brother Chang, look at the bear-like appearance of these Southern barbarians on both sides; they don't even dare to look at us."

Amai couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Silly boy, close your mouth. I actually took this from the general's dining table. The general's composure is much stronger than yours. Not only did his expression remain unchanged, but he also praised me for being clever, saying it was a win-win situation, as it could also serve as food when hungry"

Zhaoye Bai recognized the way and automatically stopped at the steps in front of the mansion. Chang Yuqing did not dismount, calmly sitting on horseback while watching Amai's face grow increasingly pale. She was injured and, being a woman, the wound on her shoulder continued to bleed. There was no need for him to do anything; just by delaying for a moment, she would faint from excessive blood loss.

Thus, when this feeling is discovered in another person, especially in a woman from the Southern Xia, Chang Yuqing inevitably feels it to be strange... Indeed, this woman has her head lowered, yet there is not the slightest sense of timidity; her hands firmly support the cart, as if she is always ready to spring up with force...

Upon entering the city, both A-Mai and Zhang Er-Dan let out a sigh of relief. Zhang Er-Dan glanced at A-Mai and naturally inquired, "Sister, let us first find an inn to store the cart, and then we can take you to buy some rouge and powder, since it is not often that we come here."

However, today, as the second-in-command of the Northern Desert Army, Chang Yuqing actually insulted the women of Nansha on the street, which felt like a resounding slap in the face, striking Shida Chun and all the Nansha officers who had betrayed their country, leaving a burning pain.

Amai has already fainted, losing the support of Chang Yuqing, her body collapsed from the horse, but was caught by Chang Yuqing, falling back in front of him. Even in her unconscious state, her hand remained tightly grasped around the hilt of the knife. Chang Yuqing had to exert force on his wrist to take the knife away and reinsert it into the scabbard.

As soon as the words fell, he was slapped on the head by A Mai. He looked at A Mai in confusion, and saw her smiling as she said: "Nonsense! What is there to prepare? We are just an ordinary couple heading into the city now, what is there to prepare for?"

Amai was completely enveloped in his cloak, her head weakly resting on his shoulder, gazing at him with indifference. Her lips gently parted near his neck, emitting sounds that only he could hear, low and hoarse yet distinctly clear, "If the general does not wish to be disemboweled, he should do as I say"

Zhang Erdan's body stiffened, and he instinctively wanted to resist, but was tightly held by Amai at the collar. Amai subtly shook his head, making a gesture to signal Zhang Erdan not to reveal his identity

Chang Yuqing pressed her lips together firmly, shifted her gaze away from Amai's face, and coldly glanced at Shi Dachun, "Step aside!"

"What the hell! Fake, fake! I said, where did these high-class women from the south come from? Turns out it's a man!" Cui Yan exclaimed.

Upon realizing that she had been seen through by him, A-Mai attempted to forcefully create a disturbance, hoping to try her luck even if there was just a glimmer of hope. However, as soon as she exerted strength in her waist and abdomen, before she could straighten up, Chang Yuqing swiftly twisted her arm behind her back. In the midst of the intense struggle, A-Mai felt something in her embrace slip away, sliding out along the opening of her clothing.

Therefore, he was somewhat careless

With just this one cut, as long as it is made accurately, not to mention opening the chest and disemboweling, even the intestines would surely be severed.

Amai nodded slightly, while Zhang Erdan led the mule cart along the street towards the city. Although the New Year was approaching, there were not many stalls and pedestrians on the street, far from the usual bustle of previous years. Amai pondered to himself, it seemed that no matter how clever Chen's tactics were, the war had cast a shadow over this prosperous city.

The two leading generals of the cavalry from the Northern Desert are both quite young, one of whom is merely around seventeen or eighteen years old. He is tilting his head, animatedly whispering something to the nearby young general with a cool demeanor. As he becomes more excited, he even draws the long knife from his waist and makes a slashing motion in the air. Then, turning back with enthusiasm, he asks, "Brother Chang, don't you think so?"

Chang Yuqing did not respond to Cui Yan's question, but merely gazed at the woman on the mule cart. Just as she was about to pass by her, she suddenly drew an arrow from the quiver, and without drawing the bow, she threw it at the woman using a throwing technique.

Amai's face was pale, and she looked at Chang Yuqing and the others with a mix of surprise and fear. She quickly buried her head in Zhang Erdan's embrace, trembling, and whispered in an almost inaudible voice against his chest: "Stay calm"

Chang Yuqing furrowed his brows, fell silent, and lightly tapped the Zhaoye Bai beneath him with his heel, slowly moving forward. Although his wound was not deep, it was somewhat wide, and blood trickled slowly from the blade, soaking his robe. Unfortunately, it was all concealed by the large cloak, making it undetectable. Even though some dripped onto the ground, everyone assumed it was the blood from the woman's wound, never considering that someone like Chang Yuqing could be injured at the hands of a woman. While the crowd was puzzled by his actions and sensed something was amiss, they were unaware that he had been taken hostage by A Mai.

Take it down!" Chang Yuqing commanded coldly

"I really don't want to... die..." she murmured, her hand gripping the knife tightened suddenly, using the last of her strength to slash at Chang Yuqing's waist.

Amai was taken aback; although she did not yet know where she had revealed a flaw, it was evident that the person before her had already seen through her disguise. It was impossible to hope for him to let her go. Amai struggled a few times, her gaze drifting towards the dagger at Chang Yuqing's waist, hoping to seize the opportunity to snatch the dagger when he was off guard. She feared that only by taking this person hostage could she and Zhang Erdan have a chance of surviving and escaping from Yuzhou City.

Although A Mai's head was bowed down and empty, her mind was not the least bit confused. Even the act of bowing before Chang Yuqing's horse just moments ago was intentional on her part, for only in this way could she possibly get closer to Chang Yuqing and strike effectively. She gradually ceased her struggle, merely crying incessantly.

Amai curved her lips slightly and said, "Let him go, no one is allowed to follow."

The woman softly uttered a "hm" without speaking further, her bright eyes keenly observing the surroundings. Fortunately, there were no passersby nearby.

Zhang Erdan suddenly realized, his mouth agape, unable to speak, staring blankly at Amai

Cui Yan nodded, hurriedly dismounted, and approached Chang Yuqing's horse. Chang Yuqing first handed him the injured A Mai, and only then did he cover his abdomen and leap down from the horse. He took the golden wound medicine from Cui Yan's hand and applied some to the wound. The weather was cold, and although his wound was long, it was smooth; after applying the powder, the bleeding soon stopped. Nearby, a subordinate had already torn a clean strip of cloth and handed it over, saying, "General, the wound is too long; it is estimated that we need to find a doctor to stitch it up, otherwise it might split open." The weather was cold, and although his wound was long, it was smooth; after applying the powder, the bleeding soon stopped. Nearby, a subordinate had already torn a clean strip of cloth and handed it over, saying, "General, the wound is too long; it is estimated that we need to find a doctor to stitch it up, otherwise it might split open."

Chang Yuqing frowned slightly but smiled, squeezing her legs to urge Zhao Yebai to run faster, saying: "My belly is not that thick, I kindly ask the young lady to exercise some restraint, and not to actually open my belly."

Unfortunately, the nearly unconscious A Mai did not notice that her efforts were much slower than usual. The hand that was holding her had unknowingly moved to grip her shoulder. As soon as he realized she was straining, he forcefully pulled her body away from his, while simultaneously retracting his waist and abdomen sharply to narrowly avoid the blade, with his other hand clamping down on the edge of the knife.

Shi Dachun cupped his hands in salute to him, turned around, mounted his horse, and departed

Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter. After walking a bit further, they were just about to reach Chang Yuqing's temporary residence when they saw some soldiers blocking the entrance ahead, with the leader being none other than Shi Dachun, the former commander of Yuzhou City.

Zhang Erdan quickly nodded vigorously, glanced seriously into the distance, and replied: "Mm."

Amai's face immediately displayed a look of panic, as she leaned forward in a flattering manner, gently stroking Zhang Erdan's head, and pleaded in a soft and slow voice: "Erdan, please do not tell your grandmother, I will make you pancakes to eat when I return."

Thus, after experiencing the initial panic and doubt, the weak citizens of Yuzhou gradually settled down with a hint of luck in their hearts, continuing to live along their original path. Instead, it was those useless scholars, who usually could not lift a hand or shoulder a burden, who stood up, cursing the traitor Shi Dachun while bravely and fearlessly facing the gleaming knives and guns in the hands of the Northern Desert people with their not-so-strong chests.

Amai understood this very well in her heart, so she had to leave the city before she fainted. Estimating that Zhang Erdan should have already left the city, it was time for her to escape. In fact, her decision to let Zhang Erdan go first was not solely for the sake of self-sacrifice; she had her own plans. If Chang Yuqing were to escort both of them out of the city at the same time, it would undoubtedly attract others' attention. Who would forcibly abduct a woman and then escort her husband out of the city? With Zhang Erdan leaving the city alone, she could then be escorted out by Chang Yuqing, which might be more secure. The guards at the city gate, seeing Chang Yuqing with a woman, would likely not even ask questions, assuming it was just General Chang taking a woman out for a ride.

On the main road outside Yuzhou City, there are groups of pedestrians walking in twos and threes. The snow underfoot is somewhat thick, and stepping down can submerge one's ankles, making it quite laborious to walk. Most of these people are locals from around Yuzhou, and with the New Year approaching, they are either heading to the city to sell some firewood in exchange for tea and salt, or going to the city to purchase goods for the New Year celebrations

The young woman gazed distantly at the city of Yuzhou, her expression calm as she said, "If something happens, will having a dagger in hand be useful?" The corners of her mouth suddenly curved into a beautiful arc as she turned to look at the young man beside her and joked, "Er Dan, you are bringing your newlywed wife into the city to buy New Year goods; what do you need a weapon for?"

"Return to the residence," Chang Yuqing replied, glancing at the figure of Amai lying in front of him. He pointedly remarked, "Let us thoroughly interrogate Shi Dachun and see with whom these two spies are meeting in the city! How is it that one of them is disguised as a woman? This is not typical of ordinary spies!"

Do people tend to reflect on their past when they are about to die

Noticing Zhang Erdan's gaze, Amai calmly reached into his bosom, fumbled for a while, and pulled out two snow-white steamed buns, waved them in front of Zhang Erdan, then stuffed them back into his bosom, adjusting the height on both sides with his hand

The cries that once echoed during the fall of Hamburg have long since faded among the towering peaks of the Ulan Mountains, and the three hundred thousand Southern Xia border troops who perished in Jingyang are too distant from the people of Yuzhou. Therefore, these rural farmers, who have spent their entire lives facing the yellow earth and turning their backs to the sky, do not have a clear understanding of war. To them, the conflicts between nations are merely soldiers at the city gate changing their uniforms, which is far less significant than the prospects of the coming year.

One by one, the standing individuals fell down, leaving only those who bent over in a desperate plea for survival, huddled to one side, watching with fearful yet relieved eyes as the weapons of the foreign tribe quenched their thirst with the blood of their compatriots

Not long ago, Shi Dachun, the defender of Yuzhou City, surrendered without a fight, and Yuzhou fell into the hands of the Northern Desert. The common people inside and outside the city were indeed in a state of panic for a while, but what was unexpected was that the Northern Desert army maintained strict discipline this time, committing almost no offenses against the ordinary citizens.

At this moment, Shi Dachun gradually calmed down, realizing that it was not the right time to confront them. Moreover, he was merely a traitorous general of the Southern Xia, with a military rank lower than that of Chang Yuqing, and thus had no grounds to argue with Chang Yuqing. His earlier outburst had been a moment of irrational anger, leading him to a difficult position. Now, seeing that Cui Yan had provided a way out, he took the opportunity and said to Chang Yuqing: "Since this is a spy, I ask the general to hand him over to the military affairs office for investigation"

Shi Dachun cast a discreet glance at the woman lying in front of Chang Yuqing's horse and asked in a low voice: "I hope General Chang will forgive my rudeness, may I ask who the woman on the horse is?"

She truly did not want to die, even if she had to die alongside the infamous "killer." She was unwilling. In the eyes of others, trading her life for his was evidently a great bargain, but for her, it was a loss; she would lose her life, and what use was it to gain anything more? A faint smile curved at the corner of A Mai's mouth as she slowly closed her eyes

Cui Yan watched as Shi Dachun led the group around the street corner, then turned his head and looked at Chang Yuqing with some confusion, "Brother Chang, what exactly is going on?"

Shi Dachun wore a stern expression, his gaze sweeping over Cui Yan's face before finally resting on Chang Yuqing's horse. He said: "The Marshal has ordered me, Shi, to maintain public order within Yuzhou City, and I dare not be negligent. I have just received a report that General Chang has forcibly taken a civilian woman in the street, and it is my duty to come and investigate."

"Brother Chang, could such a woman really be a spy?" Cui Yan asked, clicking his tongue. "Could it be that you are being too cautious? I don't think so!"

Cui Yan looked curiously at Chang Yuqing's back, then bent down to examine the female servant closely. He noticed that her hairpin had long since come undone, and the gaudy silk flower was also gone, making her look much better than before. After pondering for a moment, Cui Yan turned A Mei's face to the side, grabbed a handful of snow from the ground, and smeared it on her face. The thick rouge flowed down with the melting snow, revealing her complexion, which was as pale as snow, with a hint of bluish tint.

After leaving Chang Yuqing, Cui Yan's mouth had hardly stopped moving. Chang Yuqing spoke little, merely listening quietly, as if pondering some issue, and did not pay much attention to Cui Yan's words.

A Mai heard someone talking to Chang Yuqing and wanted to take the opportunity of his distraction to snatch the knife. However, just as her hand touched the handle of the knife, before she could pull it out, Chang Yuqing's hand suddenly clamped down hard.

Chang Yuqing smiled sarcastically, lowered her head to look into Amai's eyes, and instructed her subordinates, "Release that man"

Chang Yuqing let out a cold laugh, took two steps forward on horseback, bent down, and lifted Amai from the ground, placing her horizontally in front of the horse. With disdain, he said: "Do you still want to put on an act? I think it would be better for you to conserve your strength."

Chang Yuqing couldn't help but squint her eyes

Chang Yuqing's complexion changed drastically, feeling both embarrassed and ashamed, and hurriedly released his grip. Amai protected her chest with one hand while reaching for the dagger at his waist with the other. Chang Yuqing thought she intended to commit suicide in anger, so he quickly grasped her wrist and pulled her in front of him, using his other hand to hastily wrap her in the cloak behind him.

The crowd could not see the secrets hidden within the cloak. Seeing that Chang Yuqing remained silent, Shi Dachun said: "Please, General, let this woman go"

The subordinate was taken aback, but since Chang Yuqing's orders were never to be questioned, he did not dare to ask further. He untied the still unconscious Zhang Erdan and threw him off the horse. Zhang Erdan was jolted awake and, upon seeing Amai being held by Chang Yuqing, rushed over, only to be stopped by Chang Yuqing's subordinate, whose cold gun barrel was pointed directly at his throat

Chang Yuqing cast him a cold glance and said, "Not a boy, but a woman."

Shi Dachun stood on the street holding a sword, remaining utterly still.

Is that all?" Chang Yuqing asked softly, "Isn't there a need to give him a horse? A human's legs cannot run as fast as a horse's legs.

Chang Yuqing remained silent with a cold smile, yet heard Cui Yan scolding, "Who dares to slander my elder brother? We are capturing spies from Nansha, where does this so-called common woman come from!"

"Pretty girl?" Cui Yan muttered to himself, still somewhat disbelieving that the person with buns stuffed in her chest could be a woman. Unable to resist, he reached out to probe in front of A-Mai. Although she could not be described as voluptuous, she was indeed soft to the touch. Cui Yan quickly withdrew his hand as if scalded, casting a guilty glance at Chang Yuqing's back before lifting A-Mai from the ground and placing her on the horse, following Chang Yuqing.

Chang Yuqing smiled lightly, slowly scanning the submissive commoners of Nansha along the street. His gaze inadvertently paused for a moment as it slid over a mule cart closely parked by the roadside. On the cart sat a young woman, dressed in the attire of a rural person, unremarkable in appearance, with her head lowered. Yet for some reason, she made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Chang Yuqing was initially taken aback and somewhat indignant by the sudden turn of events. Hearing Shida Chun's words, he raised his sword-like eyebrows and was about to speak when he suddenly felt a chill at his waist, causing his body to stiffen involuntarily. He then slowly lowered his head to look at Amai's face. Her cheeks were painted with too much rouge, making them gaudily red, while her forehead was very pale, devoid of any color. A profusion of sweat beads dotted her face, occasionally rolling down and disappearing into the black fur trim of her cloak.

At this moment, Cui Yan had approached, but due to the uncertainty regarding the situation with Chang Yuqing, he did not dare to advance recklessly and could only stop at a distance to keep watch. Chang Yuqing cast a faint glance and called out: "Come here"

The sound was not loud, but to Amai's ears, it was no less than thunder. If she was not mistaken, the person referred to as "Brother Chang" was likely the notorious killer Chang Yuqing from the Northern Desert Army! She could hardly contain her emotions and wanted to look up to see what the man who had killed one hundred and fifty thousand border troops looked like. However, she restrained herself and instead buried her head even lower, her chin almost touching her collar.

Chang Yuqing smiled without speaking, placing the lifeless A Mai back in front of the horse

He was very close to her, his lips almost brushing against her hair, which appeared to onlookers as an intimate exchange between lovers. Cui Yan was left dumbfounded, holding the reins and frozen on his horse.

Chang Yuqing's gaze grew colder, and she did not respond to Cui Yan's question. Instead, she lowered her head and quietly asked A Mai by her side, "What happened next?"

Zhang Erdan was taken aback for a moment, then he understood Amai's meaning and said somewhat displeased: "Sister, please do not hit me in public; after all, I am your man. If my mother finds out, she will scold you again"

Chang Yuqing smiled disdainfully and said, "Please feel free."

First comes the chill, and then the pain

Chang Yuqing responded very succinctly, "Alright!" After instructing everyone not to follow, he turned his horse's head and rode back along the path they had come.

Cui Yan said again: "The Marshal still wants us to regard the southern barbarians as our own people, but just look at them. Not to mention that the men lack courage, even the women cannot be compared to our women from the capital. Each one of them dares not look anyone in the eye, unlike our women from the capital who are bold in love and hate!"

Cui Yan noticed that Chang Yuqing's gaze had paused at a certain spot by the street, and could not help but look over as well. He saw a very unsophisticated rural woman and could not help but ask with some curiosity: "Brother Chang, what is it?"

"Do not pay attention to him, keep walking!" Ah Mai said in a low voice

He tightened his grip around her hand involuntarily, feeling the arrow that touched her shoulder, sensing her body shudder slightly in his embrace. "Hehe... I don't mind... dying together with the general," she chuckled softly, her voice somewhat intermittent, the beads of sweat rolling down her forehead becoming larger, then the blade sank deeper by another inch. "Do you think I will die from the pain first, or will the general's belly be cut open first?"

The anger in Shi Dachun's eyes intensified, his fingers on the hilt of the sword turning pale and blue, clearly indicating that he was exerting tremendous effort to restrain himself from drawing the sword. He said sternly, "General Chang, please conduct yourself with dignity"

Unfortunately, Amai has never been careless. Even when she was seized during the struggle for the knife, it was only her injured left hand that was caught; her intact right hand had always been held in front of her chest. Now, it is this right hand that steadily grips the curved blade pressed against his waist. With just a slight exertion, the blade easily slips into his clothing, allowing him to feel the unique chill of the metal

What about you? Aren't you coming along?" Chang Yuqing asked again

Cui Yan was taken aback by the words, and just as he was about to kick again, his foot froze in mid-air as he blankly asked Chang Yuqing, "A woman?"

Chang Yuqing was taken aback, and then immediately lifted up Amai's upper body, noticing that her originally full chest had indeed collapsed on one side

Amai had attempted to seize this knife several times, but unfortunately, she had not succeeded until later when Chang Yuqing tore open her chest garment, revealing an infinite landscape, and she also tried to grab the knife. At that moment, Chang Yuqing thought she was merely ashamed and angry, wanting to take her own life, so he only held her wrist and pulled her to his side. He never expected that when a woman was leaning against a strange man's embrace with her chest wide open, she would still be thinking about seizing the knife.

The curved blades produced in the Northern Desert are renowned throughout the world, with sharp edges and nearly perfect curves, capable of smoothly cutting through everything in front of them

Please, General, escort me out of the city alone now, but it would be best if no one knows that I was kidnapped by you. I believe you cannot afford to lose this reputation, can you?" Amay said with a low laugh

Chang Yuqing let out a soft "hm" as she pressed the white cloth against the wound and secured it with her belt. She then turned to look at Amai, who had been thrown onto the snow by Cui Yan. A white feathered arrow was still lodged in her shoulder, and blood had already soaked through the fabric of her clothing at the shoulder.

Cui Yan winked at Chang Yuqing with a mischievous smile, then stepped forward to ask, "General Shi, may I inquire what brings you here?"

Not far ahead, the sound of hooves echoed, as a dozen cavalrymen from the Northern Desert surrounded two young generals, turning the corner. The pedestrians on the street hurriedly moved to the sides, and Zhang Erdan, without waiting for Ah Mai's instructions, also guided the mule cart to the roadside, discreetly using his body to shield Ah Mai in the cart, lowering his head along with the crowd, waiting for the Northern Desert cavalry to pass.

Zhang Erdan was originally tied to the horse of the Northern Desert soldiers behind him. Upon hearing this, his expression changed dramatically, as he thought that Amai's identity could no longer be concealed. He struggled violently. The cavalryman escorting him, seeing him struggle, did not waste any words and simply struck him on the back of the neck with the edge of his hand. Zhang Erdan felt a darkness before his eyes and fainted.

Chang Yuqing here lifted Amayi and shook her (Isn't the wheat's figure not short, yet so light in weight?), then emptied another bun and couldn't help but chuckle, "The southern barbarians truly lack dignity, to the extent of even disguising themselves as women."

Shi Dachun was taken aback and replied in a deep voice: "It is not impossible for General Chang to personally interrogate the spy, but I, Shi, will report truthfully to the Marshal."

Everyone was momentarily stunned, not understanding where Chang Yuqing's "good" had come from, and even more puzzled as to why they turned back when they reached the door. Cui Yan was taken aback for a moment, gave a glance to the person next to him, and led the two of them to follow at a distance behind.

The two men and one horse quickly arrived at the city gate, and the soldiers guarding the city indeed let Chang Yuqing exit without asking any questions. Once outside the city gate, under the guidance of A Mai, Chang Yuqing set the horse to a gallop. As the speed increased, the horse inevitably jolted, causing discomfort to both of their wounds.

The young man's face flushed slightly as he glanced at the woman awkwardly. The woman smiled and said, "If it feels really awkward, just call me 'big sister.' After all, it's obvious that I am older than you."

Such actions and such postures, if one were to claim that this is not a forcible abduction of women, who would believe it? What is the boss trying to do? Cui Yan is truly confused

Cui Yan and the others then dared to step forward, seeing Chang Yuqing with one hand holding the spy and the other pressing against his abdomen, with blood slowly seeping from his fingertips, clearly indicating that he had been injured. Cui Yan was greatly alarmed and exclaimed, "Brother Chang! What happened?" Chang Yuqing's expression remained calm as he simply asked, "Do you have any medicine for the wounds?"

Everyone was taken aback. Although they all knew that Chang Yuqing had a proud temperament and looked down upon associating with traitors like Shi Dachun, his usual conduct had not been overly problematic. As for today's incident, regardless of who was right or wrong, his domineering attitude would likely become a topic of gossip. If this were to reach the Marshal, it would probably cause some trouble.

"Let my man go," Amai said softly, "Don't try to give me any signals, just look at me!"

Zhang Erdan nodded, skillfully flicked the whip, and the mule cart briskly moved forward

Cui Yan stared blankly at the object on the ground, gazing for a moment in disbelief. He cautiously bent down and picked it up with a knife, and indeed it was a soft steamed bun. He held it up to Chang Yuqing, saying, "Brother Chang, look!"

Zhang Erdan felt embarrassed and his face turned red at the words "newlywed wife," and he couldn't help but steal glances at Wu Chang Amayi beside him. Amayi was dressed in a simple village woman's dress, her thick black hair smeared with wood shavings water, neatly tied up with a silver hairpin, her sideburns tidy, and beneath her softened brows were cheeks that were frozen red, resembling someone who had applied too much rouge, revealing the rustic charm that a country woman could hardly conceal. What made him even more hesitant to look but unable to resist stealing glances at was Amayi's chest, which had also undergone changes; although her cotton clothing was thick, it still could not hide the curves beneath. Zhang Erdan found himself somewhat perplexed.

It is quite coincidental that Chang Yuqing is such a person. His background, his abilities, and his brilliant achievements all give him the confidence to stand tall. Even when he presents himself before the court, he never bends his back.

Chang Yuqing, upon hearing this, curled her lips in disdain and remained silent

Here, we are uncertain whether to lament the apathy of the people of Yuzhou with heartfelt anger, to sigh at the pride often found among literati throughout history, or to extend our thumbs in praise of the remarkable tactics employed by General Chen Qi of the Northern Desert

Cui Yan scrutinized A Mai as if he were examining a monster, and exclaimed: "Brother Chang, I must say, this fellow really does resemble a woman. Where do the southern barbarians find such talent?"

"General, please hurry. Although I have a lot of blood, I cannot afford to lose it like this, can I?" A-Mai said with a smile, as the knife lightly grazed again.

After the Northern Desert Army entered the city, especially following the arrival of Chen Qi, there were multiple instances of military discipline being enforced, including the execution of several officers for violations. This was what ultimately stabilized the situation within Yuzhou City. However, Shi Dachun, also a soldier, understood very well that as the occupying forces, the Northern Desert people considered it their right to pillage, burn, and kill on enemy territory. How could a few military regulations possibly control such behavior? The so-called strict military discipline, which does not allow for even the slightest infraction, is merely a superficial display, serving only to push some unsightly matters into the shadows.

A series of actions occurred in an instant, leaving everyone dumbfounded. Shi Dachun and Cui Yan could only see A Mai's back because they were in front of Chang Yuqing, while the cavalry behind them could only see Chang Yuqing's back. As a result, no one could understand what was happening. Cui Yan initially guessed that Chang Yuqing intended to show Shi Dachun this so-called "woman," but he became confused by the subsequent actions.

A few northern desert cavalrymen stepped forward to bind Amai and the other person. Zhang Erdan, while struggling, cried out: "What have we done? On what grounds are you arresting us? Let go of my wife! Let her go!"

The wound was touched, causing a pain that penetrated to the bone, making one involuntarily want to faint. A-Mai tightly closed her eyes, trying her best not to listen to the mockery and disdain in his tone. She only told herself that as long as there was still a breath left, she could not give up; as long as there was a breath, she had to strive to live on

Amai's brows were tightly furrowed, her sweat-drenched hair clinging closely to the sides of her face, and the rouge on her lips had faded, appearing exceedingly heavy.

The young man hesitated for a moment, but could not help but ask: "Wu—"

Knowing full well that it was all an act, Zhang Erdan's face still flushed slightly, and he gave a simple smile. Then he heard A Mai whisper, "We are almost there, so I won't say much. Don't be nervous. If you want to deceive others, you must first deceive yourself. I am your wife, Han, and we got married on the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. Our family is somewhat well-off, and with the New Year approaching, you cannot resist my insistence, so you are taking me to Yuzhou City to buy some New Year goods."

In the northern part of the river, the weather turns cold, and as winter sets in, there are frequent winds and snow, especially intensifying in the twelfth lunar month. On the afternoon of the 19th, snowflakes began to swirl in the sky, and by nightfall, it had transformed into a heavy snowfall, which continued for nearly two days. On the 21st, the sky suddenly cleared, and the sun emerged from behind the clouds, casting countless rays of sunlight onto the snow-covered plains of the river, illuminating the surroundings in a dazzling white that made one's eyes ache.

Due to the recent absence of military conflicts and being in the city, Chang Yuqing was not wearing heavy armor, but rather a set of lightweight battle robes, and did not even carry a long spear with him, only a small curved dagger hung at his waist

The entry into the city went smoothly; the soldiers from Beimo only inquired a few questions of Zhang Erdan as per usual. Seeing that his answers were without error and that his accent was local to Yuzhou, they did not ask further, merely waving their hands to allow their mule cart to enter the city. Throughout the entire process, A Mai did not dare to raise her head, merely adopting the demeanor of a timid and cowardly woman, quietly sitting in the mule cart and listening to Zhang Erdan answer the questions of the Beimo people in a tone tinged with fear.

Cui Yan was somewhat taken aback, not understanding why Chang Yuqing would suddenly confront a woman. A hint of a sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of Chang Yuqing's mouth; his intuition was indeed correct, this woman was indeed problematic. The subtle evasion just now might deceive the eyes of others, but it could not fool him, Chang Yuqing.

"Big Sister," the boy stammered slightly, his expression extremely unnatural as he asked, "Why do we have to bury even the dagger? What if something happens?"

On the western edge of Yuzhou City, a young boy dressed as a farmer quickly emerged from the woods, jumped onto a flat mule cart waiting by the roadside, and whispered to the young woman on the cart: "Everything is hidden well"

This woman, Chang Yuqing, raised an eyebrow with a smile at the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, she pulled the nearly unconscious Amai up from the horse and grabbed her collar with both hands, pulling forcefully. However, she suddenly froze halfway through the action. Amai felt a chill in her chest, and her consciousness abruptly cleared. She quickly opened her eyes and saw that Chang Yuqing's hands were still gripping her collar in a frozen state, prompting her to hurriedly cover her own collar without regard for anything else.

Zhang Erdan shouted as he rushed to Amayi's side, just about to speak when Amayi pinched his leg hard. He swallowed the words "Wu Zhang" that were on the tip of his tongue and instead shouted out "Elder Sister".

Is it ultimately impossible to escape? She straightened her neck and glanced back at the horse, but currently, she could not see anyone following behind. Is it truly that no one is pursuing her, or are they hiding too well?

Amai was not mistaken; the one approaching was indeed Chang Yuqing, the renowned general of the Northern Desert. The young man beside him was none other than Cui Yan, the nephew of Zhou Zhiren, known as the Little Overlord, a lieutenant from the Northern Desert. The two were quite familiar with each other in the capital of the Northern Desert, with Chang Yuqing being a few years older than Cui Yan, who had admired him since childhood. This time, when they met in Yuzhou, Cui Yan could not help but approach Chang Yuqing, earnestly requesting to be assigned to his command to avoid being scolded by his uncle all day.

Zhang Erdan looked at Amai in confusion, but unfortunately, he could only see her hair that had long since fallen out from under her cloak, without even catching a glimpse of her expression. However, he still remembered Amai's previous instructions: regardless of whether the task could be completed, their ultimate goal was to survive and exit alive. Therefore, he did not ask any questions, turned around, and slipped into the alley, taking the shortest route out of the city

Cui Yan saw Chang Yuqing examining A Mai on the ground and couldn't help but kick him with his foot, asking, "Elder brother, did this brat hurt you?"

Zhang Erdan was even more dumbfounded, blushing and unable to utter a word

After the city of Yuzhou fell into the hands of the Northern Desert, the city defenses were entirely replaced by soldiers from the Northern Desert. The troops under Shi Dachun were primarily responsible for maintaining order within the city. When dawn broke, the city gates opened, and now, with the sun already high in the sky, some citizens from the Southern Xia were still arriving in succession to enter the city. The Northern Desert soldiers at the city gate were neatly dressed and maintained strict military discipline; if one did not closely observe their attire, one might almost mistake them for the original guards of this city.

Amai instinctively looked up, the thought of whether to evade or not flashed through her mind like sparks, and in an instant, she made her choice, fearfully curling her body slightly to the side and taking the arrow on her shoulder.

Cui Yan could not help but ask, "Brother Chang, where shall we take them?"

"No, we will move forward slowly," Amai said in a low voice. As soon as the words left his mouth, he couldn't help but take a sharp breath, and the curved dagger in his hand was pressed down slightly. "It would be best if the general does not touch my wound again, otherwise, for every bit of pain I feel, you will inevitably feel three times the pain."

In this world, there is always a type of person who, regardless of how low his head may be or how bent his waist is, maintains a straight back, as if every bone and muscle is taut, holding itself in an optimal posture, always ready to stand up. Such a person seems to be inherently lacking certain qualities compared to others, such as—servility.

"Call me 'wife'!" the woman corrected, her voice somewhat hoarse, which was quite incongruous with her youthful and beautiful bright features

Cui Yan's eyes turned as he smiled at General Shi Dachun, saying, "General Shi has misunderstood; these two are spies whom we just captured, and we intend to interrogate them thoroughly."

Amai nestled in Chang Yuqing's embrace. Although she could not see the people trailing far behind, it was evident that the Northern Desert people were not fools. Chang Yuqing's series of unexpected actions would undoubtedly raise suspicions; it would be strange if no one were following them. Despite these thoughts, Amai said nothing, her right hand still tightly gripping the knife handle, not daring to relax even a little. The man before her was Chang Yuqing, known as the 'Killer General.' She had merely gained the upper hand by seizing the opportunity, and a moment's carelessness could lead to her being shattered in his hands. Despite these thoughts, Amai said nothing, her right hand still tightly gripping the knife handle, not daring to relax even a little. The man before her was Chang Yuqing, known as the 'Killer General.' She had merely gained the upper hand by seizing the opportunity, and a moment's carelessness could lead to her being shattered in his hands.

Everything happened too suddenly, Cui Yan did not have time to ask why, Zhang Erdan did not have time to use his body as a human shield, and the crowd did not even have time to exclaim... The arrow had already reached Amayi's side

The blood on my shoulder kept flowing, dripping onto the snow and blooming into spots of red, reminiscent of the flowers that bloomed on the old trees in the backyard of my childhood home, equally as red. Those flowers were truly beautiful, and fragrant; I would cut a few branches and place them in a large vase in the room, and when warmed by the heat, the entire house would be filled with their scent, making it impossible for her to concentrate on her studies, only wanting to sleep. ... My head felt so heavy, I could only lean on this person's shoulder, but it was not comfortable at all, too hard, not as pleasant as leaning on Brother Chen Qi's shoulder ... Those flowers were truly beautiful, and fragrant; I would cut a few branches and place them in a large vase in the room, and when warmed by the heat, the entire house would be filled with their scent, making it impossible for her to concentrate on her studies, only wanting to sleep. ... My head felt so heavy, I could only lean on this person's shoulder, but it was not comfortable at all, too hard, not as pleasant as leaning on Brother Chen Qi's shoulder ...

From a distance, Cui Yan had already caught up with them from behind. Chang Yuqing hesitated for a moment, but still decided to tidy up A Mai's collar first. Only then did she lower her head to check the wound on her waist; fortunately, it was merely a gash and not a serious incision.

The city of Yuzhou is not far away. Amai wiped the smile off her face, took a few deep breaths, and turned to Zhang Erdan, saying: "We are almost there. Are you ready?"

Chang Yuqing said softly: "What if I do not submit?"

"Oh dear, Brother Chang, this woman is still a mute!" Cui Yan exclaimed, seeing A Mai crying and knocking her head on the ground, he felt a bit of compassion, "Why bother capturing them? Just let them go!"

The passersby on the street looked on in terror at all of this, watching helplessly as the Northern Desert people bound the poor young couple, yet no one dared to utter a cry.

Cui Yan was still in shock, while Chang Yuqing had already stood up from the ground, walked back to her horse, pressed one hand against her waist wound and used the other to push herself onto the saddle, already mounted on the horse. "Take her up, return to the city! No one is allowed to mention the injury!" Chang Yuqing said, disregarding Cui Yan's astonishment, covering the bloodstains in front of her with her cloak, and then turned the horse's head towards the city.

The arrow he shot was itself a trap; if it were an ordinary woman, the arrow would merely pass through her armpit and would not injure her at all. However, her reaction was too swift, and that was not the mistake. The mistake was that with her reaction speed, she could have completely avoided the arrow. Unfortunately, she chose to take the arrow on her shoulder instead.

Chang Yuqing did not respond, and walked over to crouch beside Amai. He touched the white feather arrow on her shoulder, hesitated slightly, then drew a curved knife from his waist. With one hand he secured the arrow shaft, and with a single stroke of the knife, he severed the arrow at the root. He then used the knife to cut open the fabric on her shoulder, revealing a wound that was still slowly bleeding, and poured the remaining powder from the medicine bottle onto it.