Le Hu’s eyes dimmed, thinking they were more than just acquaintances.
Zhou Hu continued, “Why does it hurt so much here when I see you injured?” He pointed to his chest, feeling a dull ache. This sensation was so foreign; he hadn’t felt anything like it even when his own mother died.
Le Hu felt a bit embarrassed. As always, his expressions of affection were so direct.
“I haven’t seen you before, this is my first time meeting you.”
“Then what’s your name?”
“Le Hu. My mother gave me this name.”
Seeing Le Hu’s dejected expression, Zhou Hu didn’t press further and walked out. "That’s not right, we must have met. Damn it, why is he acting like a woman, so sentimental?" he muttered to himself, walking with his head down.
“Hey, big guy, what are you muttering about?” Ye Qingcheng slapped him hard on the shoulder. Zhou Hu jumped in fright.
“I say, are you the type of person who gets easily startled?” Ye Qingcheng asked speechlessly.
“Princess Consort, I was just thinking,” Zhou Hu replied, feeling a little sheepish himself.
“Thinking? Thinking about how to fight the barbarians? Why aren’t you taking better care of your wife? She’s quite inconvenient to move around now.” She asked this question very naturally.
“Wife? Princess Consort, what nonsense are you spouting?” Zhou Hu’s face turned red with embarrassment.
“Oh, right, not yet, but soon. Look at you, so useless. Let me guess, were you thinking about him just now?” Ye Qingcheng asked with a hint of schadenfreude.
“Why would I think about him? I was thinking about the war,” he avoided her gaze, clearly caught in his lie.
Ye Qingcheng slung an arm around his shoulder like a close friend, dispensing advice from her experienced perspective. “Young man, don’t be shy. If you don’t understand anything, come ask me.” She just wanted to ship them up close.
Moved by her “sincere” tone, Zhou Hu told Ye Qingcheng about the heartache he felt the first moment he saw Le Hu.
“My goodness, so reincarnation does exist and you still remember your love!” She was truly shocked. Could it be that Zhou Hu also had a secret? “It’s best if you tell him your feelings directly. He’ll be very happy.” Ye Qingcheng also thought about the child’s severe injuries and the suffering he must have endured on the other side.
“Tell him directly, tell him directly, do I really have to say it?” Zhou Hu thought to himself. Just as he made up his mind, he was interrupted.
“General Zhou, the Prince requests your presence.” It was an暗卫 (àn wèi - secret guard) from Xiao Wangye’s side.
It seemed he’d have to wait for another day.
“According to reliable sources, the barbarians have gathered the captured herders into the same group. This is the topographical map we obtained.” The map indicated the distribution of the barbarian encampments and the location of the herders’ group.
“Your Highness, I think we should just charge in and defeat them soundly,” said Lu Yi, Xiao Wangye’s most reckless general.
“Unacceptable, unacceptable,” the surrounding generals protested.
“What’s unacceptable? Are you afraid? Every single one of our soldiers is worth ten of theirs!”
Chirping and squawking, the generals who had been terrified of the barbarians were now arguing like fishwives at a market.
Xiao Wangye’s brow twitched. He suppressed his anger. These guys, such brutes! He prepared to intervene.
“Enough, stop arguing!” Zhou Hu shouted loudly. His voice echoed in the tent, almost shaking the place. The guards outside the tent covered their ears.
“Very good, I don’t need to. My image is maintained.” This was Xiao Wangye’s inner thought.
Damn these scoundrels, not talking about the important matters. I still have very important things to tell someone!
The generals stopped.
Xiao Wangye seized the opportunity to speak, “Everything that needs to be known has been explained. Propose any strategies you have, except for the one about immediately launching an attack.”
Xiao Wangye’s ability to lead troops in battle was the salvation of that era.
Ultimately, to minimize innocent casualties, it was decided to split into two routes. One route would flank the barbarian camp from the rear for a surprise attack and rescue the captured herders. The other route would engage them head-on, drawing their attention to the greatest extent and buying time.
The rear assault was led by Li Yi. Li Yi, famous from a young age, had a scholarly appearance, fitting the saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. He possessed immense strength and power.
Xiao Wangye’s generals had monthly arm-wrestling competitions. The losing team would accept punishment unconditionally, a punishment that made the grown men wail continuously.
Li Yi was the only general who had never been defeated. Other generals naturally bowed to his strength.
His meticulous mind was proportional to his appearance, and he was also someone who understood Xiao Wangye’s thoughts, sometimes even offering better suggestions to perfect Xiao Wangye’s plans.
“Li Yi accepts the command. I will not fail this trust,” he said, cupping his fists respectfully towards the Regent King.
Afterwards, they discussed the details. Zhou Hu and Deng Dabiao would lead troops to taunt the enemy provocatively, and preparations would be made to avoid ambushes.
That night, Ye Qingcheng entered as usual to give Xiao Wangye acupuncture.
“It’s likely we’ll go to war soon. At that time, you’ll stay with Old Man Wen. Don’t think about doing anything foolish like going into the enemy’s camp.” Listen to that arrogant tone.
Ye Qingcheng’s eyebrow twitched. Did he have no mouth? Why did words of concern from him sound so irritating?
Xiao Wangye found her dare-not-speak-her-mind expression very pleasing.
“I promise you, this war will end soon,” he said with a slight upward curve of his lips, clearly in a good mood.
“I promise you this war will end soon.” She remembered him from her memories again.
Xiao Wangye became angry. Who was he looking at? Who was she thinking about so fondly?
“Hey, watch it, you’ll poke it wrong,” she complained, reminding him.
“Ah, ah, okay, okay, sorry.” Alas, she didn’t even know if she’d have a chance to go back. If she went back and he wasn’t there, what was she thinking? She needed to deal with the current matter first.
“What I said to you earlier didn’t mean anything. Don’t misunderstand.” The somewhat awkward Xiao Wangye still wanted to mend their relationship.
“Ah? What did you say? You have plenty of things you need to apologize to me for.” Ye Qingcheng would always try to trick Xiao Wangye whenever she had the chance.
Xiao Wangye: …
“Take me as your disciple.”
“Oh, that matter. Then I’ll forgive you only if you apologize to me formally,” she said with a hint of girlish coyness.
“I apologize, I was wrong that day. I hope you can accept my apology.” He apologized with immense sincerity and seriousness.
“Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully resolving the mechanism. The progress bar has reached twenty percent.”
Ye Qingcheng was startled and jumped up. Seeing this, Xiao Wangye thought he had frightened her and asked worriedly, “You… you don’t accept?”
“Ding, male lead’s apology count plus one. Sincerity plus twenty.” The voice in her mind continued to prompt.
“No, no, of course I accept your apology.” Fearing he might see through her, she decided to leave.
“I’ll go out and see how your medicinal soup is brewing. I’ll bring it to you later.” She turned and ran out immediately, afraid Xiao Wangye would ask more questions.
With no one around, Ye Qingcheng spoke, “Could you possibly be some awesome system that wants me to complete tasks?” she asked with a hint of excitement.