After the exhaustion of a day spent fleeing, Qin Yu’s weariness overwhelmed her.
Luo Shangyu’s embrace was warm and soft, and as Qin Yu lowered her guard and relaxed her body and mind, she soon drifted off into dreamland.
Holding Qin Yu’s soft body, Luo Shangyu did not feel the slightest bit of fatigue.
As she listened to Qin Yu’s breathing gradually level out, Luo Shangyu knew she had fallen asleep.
She gently placed Qin Yu on the bed, then quietly climbed out from under the covers and stood by the bedroom window.
Thanks to Space Magic, the interior of Luo Shangyu’s Central Army Tent was just like an ordinary house, fully furnished with sizeable glass windows that could be opened.
Luo Shangyu pushed the window open slightly.
The autumn rain had stopped, and the evening breeze, mixed with the scent of damp earth, brushed through her blonde hair and drew the warmth from her body.
Luo Shangyu led the army of the Kingdom of Yiyong here to face off against the army of the Chengji Empire, and the King of Yiyong had already expressed his dissatisfaction several times.
Even though Luo Shangyu had explained the strategy of a war of attrition to him, he still refused to listen and had repeatedly pressured her to go to battle.
At the thought of this, Luo Shangyu’s hands involuntarily gripped the windowsill.
Her heart was filled with anxiety regarding her own future: after repelling the Chengji Empire’s army this time, she would inevitably face the jealousy of the court officials.
If that incompetent King listened to their slander, he might just decide to move against her…
She turned back to look at Qin Yu, who was sleeping soundly on the bed.
That was the Crown Prince of the Chengji Empire—the trump card in her hand, the card she could use to stand against the King.
***
When Qin Yu woke up again, her exhaustion had completely vanished.
The sensation of Luo Shangyu embracing her the night before was still fresh in her memory.
For a moment, that comfortable feeling made her forget that she was still a prisoner and that she had spent the night in the bed of the enemy general.
Today’s clothes had already been placed by the bed.
It was a dark blue tracksuit and a white short-sleeved shirt, similar to what she had worn yesterday.
However, this set fit Qin Yu’s figure perfectly.
The brand-new stitching on the clothes made Qin Yu realize that Luo Shangyu must have specifically found a tailor to alter them for her.
She put on the clothes and pushed open the door.
Outside the bedroom was Luo Shangyu’s office, and a bowl of hot porridge sat on the desk.
Beyond the office, noisy discussions drifted in from the meeting room.
Qin Yu guessed that Luo Shangyu was currently discussing military affairs with her officers.
She finished the hot porridge in two or three gulps and walked outside the tent.
The air was fresh after the autumn rain.
Qin Yu strolled through the military camp as the soldiers nearby gave her strange looks.
She climbed up to the camp’s watchtower and looked toward the Chengji Empire’s camp across the way.
The soldiers in that camp were packing their bags and bustling about.
It was clearly a scene of impending retreat.
During this expedition, Qin Yu had failed to defeat the army of the Kingdom of Yiyong and had even been captured.
She did not know what kind of impeachment the court officials would bring against her.
Feeling troubled, Qin Yu left the watchtower and prepared to return to the Central Army Tent.
She walked with her head down, lost in thought, until she suddenly bumped into a sturdy frame.
Qin Yu looked up to see a burly soldier blocking her path back.
Qin Yu frowned and asked, “Could you move aside?”
The soldier let out a loud laugh and said, “Look, who do we have here?”
Suddenly, a circle of soldiers swarmed around them, whispering and pointing at Qin Yu.
“…”
Qin Yu didn’t know what to do.
She could only clench her fists and stand her ground, shouting in a louder voice, “Can you move out of the way?”
“Hahaha!”
The mocking laughter around her grew even louder.
The leading soldier stepped toward Qin Yu, looming over her he asked, “Little sister, who exactly are you? We’ve been trying to guess, but we just can’t figure it out!”
Someone nearby chimed in, “They say she was found in the Crown Prince’s tent. She must be the Crown Prince’s toy, right?”
“Maybe the Crown Princess?”
“Or maybe she’s just the Crown Prince herself?”
This unrealistic guess caused everyone to burst into laughter.
“Would the Crown Prince of the Chengji Empire really look like this?”
Qin Yu stood frozen, her vision nearly going dark.
‘This person’s nonsensical guess seems like the most unreliable one, but it’s actually the truth!’
The laughter from the crowd sounded so piercing in Qin Yu’s ears.
Over the past few days, she had almost managed to ignore her change in gender, but these people just had to bring up exactly what she didn’t want to talk about!
At that moment, Qin Yu desperately wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
This situation was far too embarrassing!
Qin Yu’s eyes stung, and she felt like she was about to cry.
However, she kept her head down and stared at the ground, forcing back the tears.
She didn’t want to let others see her weep so easily.
“What are you doing!” Luo Shangyu’s voice suddenly rang out from outside the crowd.
“Are you trying to start a mutiny!”
Hearing this, Qin Yu’s heart immediately relaxed.
She was about to be rescued!
As soon as the soldiers heard Luo Shangyu’s reprimand, they scattered and returned to their respective tents.
“They didn’t do anything to you, did they?” Luo Shangyu rushed to Qin Yu’s side, looking at her face, which was on the verge of tears.
Upon seeing Luo Shangyu, the defenses in Qin Yu’s heart completely collapsed.
She threw herself into Luo Shangyu’s arms and replied, “They… they didn’t know my identity, so they were just guessing blindly, and then… then they… they actually guessed my identity…”
When Luo Shangyu heard this, she thought there wasn’t much to cry about.
It was probably just a coincidence.
She tried to think of something to say to comfort Qin Yu while stroking her head to calm her emotions.
“And then… then they said… how could the Crown Prince of the Chengji Empire… look like this…” Qin Yu’s tears poured down.
Not only had she accidentally gained a permanent skin, but she was also being mocked for it!
Seeing Qin Yu crying like a broken lily, Luo Shangyu knew that no words would help.
She could only hold Qin Yu tight while gently patting her back.
Once Qin Yu had mostly finished her cry, she wiped her tears and pulled away from Luo Shangyu’s embrace.
“Thank you. I feel much better…”
“Really?” Luo Shangyu wiped the remaining tears from the corners of Qin Yu’s eyes and said, “Don’t force yourself. If you want to cry, just let it all out.”
“No, I’m really okay now.”
“All right.” Luo Shangyu trusted Qin Yu’s word and lightly took her hand by saying, “Let’s go back.”
They walked through the camp filled with soldiers, many of whom came out to watch the two of them.
The earlier commotion had sparked even more speculation among the soldiers regarding Qin Yu’s identity.
As they walked, the voices of several people reached Qin Yu’s ears.
“The General seems to value her quite a bit, doesn’t she?”
“I heard the General and her are staying in the same room…”
“Do you think General Luo likes women, and she’s fallen for Qin Yu…”
Qin Yu didn’t mind the other comments, but after hearing that last sentence, she completely lost her composure.
Qin Yu thought about it carefully.
Luo Shangyu did seem a bit strange toward her.
Her attitude could even be described as… gentle?
Qin Yu stole a glance at Luo Shangyu, only to find her gaze meeting her own.
“What? Do you believe what they’re saying?” Luo Shangyu pressed her hand onto Qin Yu’s head, forcing her to keep looking at her.
“I…” Qin Yu lowered her gaze, stammering and not daring to speak.
“Actually, I don’t like women!” Luo Shangyu said, watching Qin Yu’s slightly frightened expression.
“Whew—” Qin Yu let out a long sigh of relief.
“However, if it’s Qin Yu… I might consider it.”
“?!” Qin Yu stared at Luo Shangyu.
“What is that supposed to mean!”
Luo Shangyu ignored Qin Yu’s question and continued leading her forward by the hand, acting as if nothing had happened at all.