Xiao Wangye glanced at Zhou Hu and, without another word, dismissed him.
General Zhou hurried away, not daring to linger for another second lest the living devil before him decide on some punishment.
Life on the border was certainly not easy, but for Ye Qingcheng, who had survived the apocalypse, it was merely another way of living.
Upon arriving at the border, after a brief rest, Ye Qingcheng went to visit the soldiers injured in the previous battles. The army camp had its own medical officers. Initially, they looked down on her, seeing her as just a young girl. However, as they observed her techniques and the incisiveness of her questions, their perception began to change.
Gradually, a rumor spread through the camp: "Doctor Wen is very pleased with the new Doctor Ye and wishes to take him as a disciple."
By the time this reached Xiao Wangye's ears, several days had already passed.
"Your Highness, scouts report that the nomadic tribes were forced to join the barbarians. The nomads are strongly opposed to war. The barbarians are cruel and lawless; they kill anyone who resists."
This remark was overheard by Ye Qingcheng, who was outside the tent. War was still a rather abstract concept for her. An incident instigated by the selfish desires of one nation was unacceptable in any era.
Ye Qingcheng pulled aside the tent flap and walked in, showing no regard for the Prince within.
"Xiao Wangye, I presume you have a way to save them?"
Ye Qingcheng, dressed in male attire, carried a tray of food in one hand and pulled open the tent flap with the other. She had just returned from attending to the wounded, and her sleeves had not yet been adjusted. Her fair arm was visible, the back of her hand slightly reddened.
"This must be the Princess Consort. I am Zhou Hu, I served with the Prince."
Ye Qingcheng looked at the burly man before her, over six feet tall. He wore thin clothing, and the muscles in his arms showed clear definition as he clasped his hands in greeting.
Zhou Hu was, in the original timeline, the first high-ranking general to be sacrificed in the war. He died simply for saving a small boy, which triggered a five-year war that only ended with Xiao Wangye's ascension.
Since she already knew the cause of the events, Ye Qingcheng was determined to prevent them from happening.
"You don't need to call me Princess Consort in the army camp; I am merely a minor army doctor by the Prince's side."
She placed the tray in front of Xiao Wangye, gesturing for him to eat. Without a word to him, she began conversing with Zhou Hu.
The air around Xiao Wangye grew colder. Zhou Hu found this amusing, seeing that even the Prince could be put in an awkward position. His smile when talking to the Princess Consort grew even brighter.
"I've heard much about the Princess Consort's reputation. With the Princess Consort providing medical support behind the lines, the brothers in the army are at ease." Zhou Hu, being a man of bold character, found himself getting along very well with Ye Qingcheng.
The Prince Regent behind them, however, was not so fortunate; such an important figure was being completely ignored.
"Ahem," a subtle hint that he was still present and they shouldn't get too carried away.
The two turned to look at him. Seeing that he remained silent, they continued their conversation.
"Ahem, ahem," a more direct hint that Zhou Hu should leave.
"Your Highness, what do you wish to say?" Zhou Hu, a straightforward man, did not understand the hints.
"You should leave." Xiao Wangye's voice, filled with resentment, carried a distinct threat.
Sensing the situation was unfavorable, Zhou Hu quickly made his exit.
Why did he leave when they were having such a good chat? I still have many questions for General Zhou, Ye Qingcheng mumbled. This living devil, whom even an upright man like General Zhou feared, was truly detestable. Xiao Wangye's standing in Ye Qingcheng's heart dropped another notch.
Seeing that no one was left to chat with, Ye Qingcheng sat down to eat with him.
"Why are you eating my food?"
"Because I haven't eaten either."
"Just because you haven't eaten, you have to eat mine?"
"This isn't yours; my portion is included. I even specifically asked the cooks to save my share to eat with you. I haven't stopped since I arrived; I'm exhausted and swamped."
She chattered on, like a little nightingale. Although she was complaining, her tone was relaxed, devoid of any real resentment.
Moreover, it seemed like it had been a long time since she had eaten with someone at the same table.
Even the Emperor's invitations were politely declined and avoided by Xiao Wangye, all to prevent any opportunities for others to exploit him. His experience with Ye Qingcheng was different; she was so vibrant, and everyone who interacted with her praised her highly.
She was so passionate, like a red rose blooming under the scorching sun, fiery and unrestrained, easily capturing his attention. Despite having such similar faces, she gave him a completely different feeling. He seemed to like the current Ye Qingcheng more.
"What, is it because I'm good-looking that you're staring so intently?" Ye Qingcheng teased when she noticed Xiao Wangye had stopped eating and was staring at her face. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Xiao Wangye then realized he had been staring at Ye Qingcheng for quite some time. Undeterred by any embarrassment, he naturally averted his gaze and focused on his meal.
After all, his strangeness was not a matter of one or two days; eating his fill was the most important thing.
During the lunch break, the soldiers in the camp rested quietly. Only two idle onlookers were outside the Prince's tent, shoving each other, trying to push the other into the Prince's tent.
"You go in."
"You go in, the Prince is more lenient with you."
"You go in, you brute, the Prince will forgive you."
Neither budged, both being equally imposing figures. If they started a game of tug-of-war, it would easily last for two hours.
Inside, Xiao Wangye could no longer tolerate his two great generals disgracing him outside. He personally pulled open the curtain.
Time seemed to freeze for three seconds. Upon seeing Xiao Wangye's stunningly indifferent, icy face,
They snapped to attention, stood straight, saluted, and shouted, "Greetings, Your Highness!" Their voices were so loud they could have commanded a company, and in the silent environment, an echo followed.
Xiao Wangye's eyebrow twitched. He gritted his teeth and said, "You better have something important," implying that if they didn't, he would deal with them.
Zhou Hu quickly walked in and pushed Xiao Wangye's wheelchair inside.
"Your Highness, we've come to inquire about something." The speaker was Deng Dabiao, Xiao Wangye's second-in-command after Zhou Hu. His name, as it were, spoke volumes.
If Ye Qingcheng were present, she would have immediately exclaimed a colorful curse.
Deng Dabiao, after Zhou Hu's death,
Furious, in the final battle of the war, he single-handedly challenged three hundred of the enemy, directly forcing the barbarians to refrain from invading for three months.
Meanwhile, upon seeing Zhou Hu, Xiao Wangye remembered Ye Qingcheng's words during lunch: "Since you suspect me, I can't explain it to you now. But I still must tell you, as it concerns General Zhou's life and death."
"Before the war with the barbarians begins, if General Zhou finds any young children, anywhere, tell him not to bring them back to the army camp."
Could it be that Ye Qingcheng possessed the ability to foresee the future? Without evidence, he would not easily utter such a flawed statement.
Still, it was just a child. Even if he were rescued, he wouldn't be brought back to the camp. Making Zhou Hu stand by and let a child die would be more difficult than climbing to heaven.