The small boat sailed upriver against the current, quickly returning to the army camp.
The time was just past one o’clock, no more than two hours since Qin Yu and the others had set out.
Inside the tents, the soldiers of the Left Yulin Army anxiously awaited their return.
Seeing the flames roaring high at the South City Gate, they had guessed that Qin Yu’s surprise attack had succeeded.
Now, seeing everyone return safely, they couldn’t help but erupt in cheers.
Amidst the soldiers’ jubilant shouts, Qin Yu stepped off the boat and onto shore, surrounded by the eager crowd as she was escorted into the central military camp.
The soldiers were curious about the battle inside Jing City.
The members of Qin Yu’s death squad eagerly embellished and recounted the details of the fight to their comrades.
At every climactic point, the soldiers burst into cheers.
They truly witnessed Qin Yu’s commanding talent and Luo Shangyu’s formidable magical prowess.
Qin Yu entered the central command tent and went into her room, sitting at the table to write a battle report to Qin Ling.
Meanwhile, Luo Shangyu stayed inside the tent, soothing the soldiers’ spirits and urging them to rest early.
After finishing the last sentence, Qin Yu sealed the report with fire wax and stamped it with her Crown Princess seal.
She slipped the letter into the messenger pigeon’s container that traveled with the army and sent the bird off from the camp.
“Looks like you’re done with your work!” Luo Shangyu pushed open the door and entered Qin Yu’s room in the central tent.
“Mm, finally I can sleep! Today was truly exhausting!” Qin Yu yawned.
Luo Shangyu sat beside the bed and said, “You should go wash by the river. I’ve already bathed.”
“By the river?” Qin Yu was puzzled.
“Isn’t there a bathhouse in the camp?”
“Well, if you want all the soldiers to see you naked, that’s certainly an option.”
“Uh…” Qin Yu was immediately at a loss for words.
She still retained the mindset from her previous life: that men being frank with each other was perfectly fine.
Of course, it wasn’t that men in the Fantasy Realm didn’t have that frankness, but Qin Yu was no longer a boy.
Carrying her change of clothes, Qin Yu opened the tent door and stepped out.
The soldiers all stood up respectfully when they saw her emerge.
“Long live the Crown Princess!”
Her leadership had earned their admiration, and they all respected her even more.
Qin Yu smiled and waved at the soldiers, then walked out of the camp gate.
To prevent the river from flooding at night, the camp was set a good distance from the Jing River.
The river’s surface was pitch black, with only a few lights shining faintly from the distant barracks.
Qin Yu stood by the riverbank, listening to the faint chirping of insects in the autumn night, looking out at the surrounding darkness, feeling a chill run down her spine.
“Ah… this…” Qin Yu was too scared of the dark to undress, clutching the hem of her clothes as she backed away, then turned and fled the riverbank, rushing back to camp.
***
When Qin Yu pushed open the door, Luo Shangyu was sitting on the bed.
Hearing the door, she looked up and saw Qin Yu standing pale at the entrance.
“What’s wrong? Finished bathing so quickly?”
“No…” Qin Yu’s voice was barely audible.
“Then why are you back? You’re dirty if you didn’t bathe, you can’t go to bed like that!”
“Uh… I’ll go now…” Qin Yu opened the door but stopped short.
She looked back at Luo Shangyu with pleading, pitiful eyes and clung to the doorframe.
Seeing Qin Yu’s desperate expression and recalling her earlier awkwardness, Luo Shangyu immediately guessed what had happened.
“I’ll accompany you to bathe!” Luo Shangyu jumped off the bed, threw a coat over her pajamas, grabbed Qin Yu’s hand, and led her out of the tent.
“Looks like you really are afraid of the dark!” Luo Shangyu said, watching Qin Yu’s frightened expression as they walked through the pitch-black wilderness.
“Mm… thank you for accompanying me.”
“Heh? No need to thank me. We’re best friends. If you want, I’ll accompany you forever!”
“Thanks…” Qin Yu leaned closer to Luo Shangyu.
Luo Shangyu led Qin Yu back to the riverbank, and with Luo Shangyu’s presence, Qin Yu no longer felt afraid.
Luo Shangyu turned around, facing away from Qin Yu.
“Eh? What are you doing?” Qin Yu thought Luo Shangyu was about to sneak away.
“You need to undress, right?”
“Why do you have to turn your back when I’m undressing?”
“Do you have to turn your back when you undress?” Qin Yu was confused.
In her previous life as a boy, she and her close friends never cared about such things.
“…” Luo Shangyu didn’t expect Qin Yu to ask such a question.
“Are you turning away because you think I look bad and feel disgusted?”
Qin Yu’s voice raised slightly, as if accusing her.
In her past life, Qin Yu trained often, and everyone admired his masculine physique.
Luo Shangyu’s avoidance now hurt Qin Yu’s pride.
Deep down, Qin Yu’s mind still hadn’t fully adjusted—she was still open like a boy.
Luo Shangyu noticed the change in Qin Yu’s tone and hurried to explain, “I didn’t…”
Qin Yu realized her reaction was somewhat inappropriate.
“Sorry, I overreacted…”
“I actually think your figure is perfect…” Luo Shangyu said, “If you want me to look, I’d appreciate it properly~”
“No need, do as you usually do.” Qin Yu peeled off Zhong Chang Gong’s clothes.
Luo Shangyu wasn’t really uninterested in Qin Yu, but out of propriety, she hadn’t turned around.
Now, it was Qin Yu’s own request.
Qin Yu stripped off her clothes and slowly stepped into the river.
The Fantasy Realm had no industry; all production relied on magic.
The Jing River wasn’t polluted by industry, so its water was crystal clear.
Under the faint campfire lights in the distance, Qin Yu could see her reflection on the water’s surface and barely make out the fine pebbles on the riverbed.
Her mind was increasingly drowsy, so she decided to finish quickly.
Qin Yu submerged her head underwater, wetting her hair.
Cold, dark, and silent beneath the surface, Qin Yu quickly soaked her hair and lifted her head back out.
“Luo Shangyu!” Qin Yu called softly.
“Hmm?”
“Come closer… I’m scared…” Qin Yu couldn’t see Luo Shangyu clearly from her spot in the water.
“I’m always by your side!” Luo Shangyu said, stepping closer to the riverbank and sitting on a nearby rock.
The moon peeked through the clouds, casting a cold, clear light.
Bathed in moonlight, Luo Shangyu watched Qin Yu, half her head submerged, only her eyes visible, her pure white hair fanning out on the clear water.
Luo Shangyu waved to Qin Yu, who could see her figure clearly in the moonlight and relaxed to continue her bath.
Finished bathing, Qin Yu stepped out of the river, dried her hair, wrapped herself in a bathrobe, and walked back to camp.
On the way, Luo Shangyu couldn’t help but tease, “Who would’ve thought the dignified Crown Princess Qin Yu would be afraid of the dark and need company to bathe? Imagine if the soldiers heard that, how they’d mock you.”
Qin Yu responded seriously, “It’s not fear of the dark. It’s to prevent the enemy from sneaking a surprise attack on the commander while I’m unguarded. That’s why I had you keep watch. It’s a foresighted move!”
“Hehe~” Luo Shangyu chuckled.
Back in the camp, it was already past two in the night.
The next day’s total assault was to be launched, and Qin Yu ordered the soldiers to rest except for the sentries.
“Tonight you’re sleeping with me!” Qin Yu took Luo Shangyu’s hand in front of all the soldiers in the central tent and led her into her room.
The soldiers looked at each other, full of surprise.
“The rumors about the Crown Princess and the Prince of Zhenping being more than just friends are confirmed!”
“Will sparks fly between them tonight?”
“They look so sweet holding hands!”
“Wait, didn’t the Prince of Zhenping also go when the Crown Princess went to bathe just now?”
“Really! Could their relationship really be that close?”
***
In Qin Yu’s room, Luo Shangyu had already changed into pajamas and sat on the bed, while Qin Yu frantically searched for sleepwear.
This trip caught them both unprepared.
Qin Yu only had one set of casual clothes, planning to change after leaving the palace.
Luo Shangyu habitually carried every kind of clothing stored in her magic storage device.
Neither expected this scenario; Qin Yu had no pajamas, and Luo Shangyu only had one set just enough for her.
Qin Yu had no choice but to sleep in her casual clothes.
The weather was cool.
Qin Yu’s casual outfit was a white short-sleeve top paired with a dark blue short skirt, over-the-knee black socks, and a beige jacket.
Naturally, one couldn’t sleep in a short skirt, so Qin Yu wore only the short-sleeve top on her upper body and underwear below, similar to what she had worn in her previous life.
Still… after so long as a girl, Qin Yu was a bit unaccustomed to this style.
She cautiously got into bed, pulled the covers over herself.
Without pajamas on her legs, Qin Yu felt shy and turned her back to Luo Shangyu as she lay down.
Luo Shangyu extinguished the lights, leaving only a faint nightlight to guide the way.
“Don’t you want me to hold you tonight?” Luo Shangyu asked.
“I still want a hug!” Qin Yu whispered, “It feels cold without pajama pants.”
Hearing this, Luo Shangyu moved close, wrapping her right arm around Qin Yu’s abdomen, her left hand circling over Qin Yu’s chest.
“Mm…” Qin Yu sank into the warmth of the embrace.
Luo Shangyu slipped her right leg between Qin Yu’s closed legs.
Qin Yu felt Luo Shangyu’s warm calf rubbing against the inside of her legs through the cotton pajamas, stirring an unfamiliar feeling.
***
The next day, Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu woke early, washed, and prepared to launch the total assault on Jing City.
Qin Yu’s clothes from yesterday were dirty, so she had to wear her casual outfit again.
She rolled her over-the-knee socks up and slipped them on, pulling them up her smooth, slender legs.
When the socks reached just below her thighs, she released them, letting them tighten and fix in place.
The slight pressure left faint marks on her pale thighs.
Qin Yu stood and put on her brown leather shoes, then looked at herself in the mirror.
Her hair color matched the short-sleeve top perfectly.
The outfit was fine, except the skirt wasn’t very suitable for riding horses.
Fortunately, Qin Yu could use magic to float in the air.
Luo Shangyu rode ahead on horseback, while Qin Yu hovered about ten centimeters off the ground, matching her pace as they led a hundred soldiers behind them.
They broke camp, set out, and launched the total assault!
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