In the morning, Qin Yu felt her head throbbing, as if she had just woken from an incredibly long dream.
In that dream, not only had she turned into a girl, but she had also been defeated in battle and captured by Luo Shangyu to become her private property…
‘This is too ridiculous!’ Qin Yu thought without hesitation, certain that she was dreaming.
Forcing her eyes open, her surroundings came into sharp focus.
The fragmented memories of yesterday flooded into her mind.
The faint sensation of something tightening around her neck served as a cold reminder of everything she had experienced the previous day.
The feelings of humiliation and resentment had faded slightly, replaced by a surging worry for the safety of her 100,000 troops and anxiety regarding her own political situation.
“Awake?” Luo Shangyu tossed a set of clothes toward Qin Yu.
It was obvious at a glance that these belonged to her.
Qin Yu looked at her timidly and asked, “Can I really wear these?”
“Of course,” Luo Shangyu said with a smile.
“Unless, that is, you prefer wearing your maid outfit.”
Only after hearing those words did Qin Yu dare to reach out and cautiously pull the clothes closer.
It was a very simple athletic outfit.
Luo Shangyu had clearly considered the fact that Qin Yu might not be fully adjusted to women’s clothing yet.
She had provided long pants for the bottom, while the top consisted of a short-sleeved shirt and a long-sleeved jacket.
As Qin Yu pulled on the pants, a sense of familiarity finally returned.
The sensation of the wind blowing up under a skirt had made her feel as if she were streaking.
She put on the jacket and then pulled her white hair out from under the collar, letting it drape freely down her back.
Standing before a mirror, Qin Yu studied her reflection.
For some unknown reason, she began to feel as if the image in the mirror was her natural state, and she found herself starting to forget what her male form had looked like.
“Come and eat breakfast.” Luo Shangyu’s commanding tone interrupted her contemplation.
Luo Shangyu led Qin Yu to her desk, where a simple breakfast was laid out.
The general had already removed her armor and changed into casual attire.
This was the first time Qin Yu had seen Luo Shangyu without her armor.
Instead of the valiant image of a heroic general, she currently looked more like a young girl in the prime of her youth.
“What? Not hungry?” Luo Shangyu reached for the bowl in front of Qin Yu.
“If you don’t want to eat, I’ll take it away.”
“I’m hungry, I’m hungry!” Qin Yu quickly diverted her gaze and stared at the porridge in the bowl, eating in large gulps.
“Oh, right,” Luo Shangyu said, resting her chin on her hand, “I’ve kept your identity a secret for you.”
Qin Yu’s heart sank upon hearing this.
Although she inwardly hoped her identity would remain strictly confidential, this meant Luo Shangyu held the “Qin Yu’s Identity” card.
She would have no choice but to obey Luo Shangyu’s every command.
Looking at the empty bowl, Qin Yu’s eyes grew dull.
She didn’t know whether she should be happy or worried.
“What, are you dissatisfied?” Luo Shangyu wiped a drop of broth from the corner of Qin Yu’s mouth before pinching her chin, forcing her to look up.
“If you aren’t satisfied, I could always reveal your identity to all the soldiers. I’m sure they would love to see what their enemy’s commander looks like now.”
Luo Shangyu’s tone was flat, but it was saturated with a sense of absolute control.
Qin Yu felt like an insignificant ant, left entirely at her captor’s mercy.
“I’m… very satisfied…” Qin Yu lowered her gaze, trying her best not to show her resentment.
Perhaps it was Luo Shangyu’s overwhelming dominance that triggered it, but a desperate urge to escape began to take root in Qin Yu’s mind.
‘Become Luo Shangyu’s private property? I won’t accept such a thing!’
Luo Shangyu took the empty bowl and left the Central Army tent, leaving Qin Yu alone inside.
Seeing that her movements were not restricted, Qin Yu stood up and began pacing around the room.
The Central Army tent utilized Space Magic to expand the interior.
When packed up, it looked like an ordinary tent, but when deployed, it functioned like a permanent residence with solid walls.
Qin Yu pushed open the door to the military affairs office.
It wasn’t locked.
She slipped inside and approached the sand table, carefully scanning the confidential military intelligence pinned to a nearby blackboard.
While Qin Yu was peeking at the information, Luo Shangyu’s voice drifted lazily from behind her, “Qin Yu, it seems… you’re being a bit naughty, aren’t you?”
Qin Yu flinched at the sound, realizing she had made a terrible mistake.
As a prisoner, she had actually dared to spy on the enemy’s military secrets!
She spun around quickly.
Luo Shangyu was staring at her with a half-smile.
“Please, don’t kill me!” Terrified, Qin Yu moved to kneel before Luo Shangyu to beg for mercy.
“I never said I was going to kill you!” Luo Shangyu laughed, catching Qin Yu before she could hit the floor and pulling her back up.
“If you want to look, feel free to look as much as you want!”
‘?’ Qin Yu wondered if she had misheard.
Seeing Qin Yu’s confused expression, Luo Shangyu gently pinched the back of Qin Yu’s neck, sliding her fingers into the gap between the collar and her delicate skin.
Qin Yu’s windpipe was slightly compressed, making it difficult to breathe.
Luo Shangyu’s finger slid deftly along the gap until it rested against the front of Qin Yu’s throat.
“You already belong to me completely, so it doesn’t matter if you spy on our intel. Do you really think you can ever return to the Chengji Empire?”
Qin Yu panted slightly and tilted her head up to meet Luo Shangyu’s gaze, her eyes reflecting her defiance.
Judging by this setup, Luo Shangyu intended to keep her imprisoned forever!
Qin Yu desperately wanted to punch Luo Shangyu in the face to protest, but given the overwhelming difference in their strength, she could only play that scene out in her imagination.
“Secretly imprisoning the Crown Prince of an enemy nation? You are a Great General of the Kingdom of Yiyong — are you trying to keep the enemy alive just to increase your own importance?” Qin Yu suppressed her humiliation and snapped back.
“Heh, Crown Prince?” Luo Shangyu chuckled, “Take a look at yourself. Do you really think you still look like a Crown Prince?”
Seeing that her attempt to bite back had failed and resulted in a counter-attack, Qin Yu could only glare at Luo Shangyu in protest.
“Alright, let’s talk business first.” Luo Shangyu withdrew her finger and said, “Your second-in-command found out you went missing after your defeat last night. He guessed that I captured you, and he is currently waiting at the camp gates to negotiate with me.”
“Will you let me go?” A sliver of hope colored Qin Yu’s slightly hoarse voice.
“Haha, you really are a dreamer!” Luo Shangyu was amused by her words and patted her head as if giving her a reward.
“There is absolutely no way I am letting you go.”
“Then can I at least say a few words to my deputy?” Qin Yu asked, settling for the next best thing.
“No. What if you collaborate with him to pull some stunt and slip away?”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu rolled her eyes internally.
Luo Shangyu had displayed terrifying magical power last night; could Qin Yu and her deputy, Zhu Xun, really manage to escape?
Despite her thoughts, she looked at Luo Shangyu with pleading eyes, putting on a pitiful, heartbroken expression.
Looking at Qin Yu, perhaps Luo Shangyu’s heart softened.
She thought about it and said, “A conversation is impossible. However, I can let you listen to his voice.”
Qin Yu’s heart filled with joy.
Being able to hear Zhu Xun’s voice would be enough for now.
Luo Shangyu led Qin Yu back to the bedroom and closed the door.
“What… what are we doing?” Qin Yu was confused.
How could she hear Zhu Xun from the bedroom?
“Naturally, I’m leaving you in the room to listen through the wall.”
“…”
“I can’t even see him once…?” Qin Yu sighed helplessly, her eyes full of reluctance.
But being under someone else’s roof, one had to bow their head.
She was Luo Shangyu’s prisoner and could only let the woman have her way.
Qin Yu sat despondently on the edge of the bed as she watched Luo Shangyu pull out the chain attached to her collar.
Seeing Qin Yu’s bewildered gaze, Luo Shangyu shook the chain, causing the metal to “clink”.
“Why the confused look? I have to chain you to the room, of course. Otherwise, what if you take the chance to run away while we’re talking?”