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墨書 Inktalez
However, to her surprise, there was a charcoal brazier in the tent that had not been lit before, and it was now crackling with burning coals. The atmosphere outside and inside the tent felt like two different worlds.
Shen Muqing seemed to have fallen asleep. His complexion was somewhat pale, the kind that indicated lack of rest and blood loss. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he had something troubling him. Yet, despite this, he looked gentle and a bit childlike. Perhaps it was due to the winter and his ongoing recovery; although his complexion wasn't great, it had become relatively delicate. In any case, Yan Zhouwan thought he looked good like this.
Unfortunately, just as she began to rest, Shen Muqing opened his drowsy eyes at that moment, catching her in the act of secretly watching him sleep. Yan Zhouwan froze, unsure of what to do next, and they ended up staring at each other in silence.
"You have quite a unique hobby."
It was Shen Muqing who broke the silence first. His voice was lazily hoarse, sounding very pleasant and enticing, almost making one want to lean in and take a bite.
"I... I came to check... if the general's blanket is properly covered."
However, Shen Muqing's simple words jolted Yan Zhouwan back to reality. She felt uncomfortable as her gaze flickered away, finally settling on what she thought was a suitable excuse.
"Hmm? And now?"
Shen Muqing's lips curled into a smile as he fully opened his eyes, becoming completely alert. He continued to probe further. It must be said that he increasingly enjoyed teasing her—watching her flustered, shy, blushing face as she stumbled over her words.
"Now... now... the general's blanket is well covered; I can sleep peacefully now."
Yan Zhouwan's palms were sweating as her fingers nervously intertwined. She glanced at the blanket that wasn't covered very well and shrank her neck as she murmured.
She wished Shen Muqing would just wave his hand and tell her to leave so she could roll back into her own bed.
Shen Muqing looked at the blanket covering only the lower half of his body, his lips twitching slightly, but he patted his bed instead.
"Just woke up, and since you can't sleep anyway, keep me company and talk."
Uh...
General, do we really need to sit on your bed to talk?
Besides, our relationship is that of a general and an unnamed soldier; how can that be??
"General, isn't this... inappropriate? If someone sees us, they might say bad things about you. I can just stand here and talk."
"It's fine. The others have done the same before. We're all men here; what's there to be awkward about? One day when I'm better, I'll take you winter swimming."
Shen Muqing seemed unconcerned and continued to ramble on. At the mention of winter swimming, Yan Zhouwan felt her legs go weak. She inwardly prayed that such a day would never come. However, in this military camp, she couldn't resist; if she angered him, her identity would be exposed. So she took a heavy step toward his bed. Just as she was about to reach it, Shen Muqing suddenly leaned forward, his long arm pulling her in. Yan Zhouwan let out a gasp as she fell directly onto the bed.
The result was predictable; she landed right in someone's warm embrace.
Moreover, with her head down, she found herself buried against his lower body and distinctly felt a twitch beneath her.
Yan Zhouwan could only describe her feelings as utterly embarrassed. She didn't know whether to bolt out of the tent immediately or lift her head from his lap and laugh awkwardly, saying: "General, I didn't mean to," or perhaps: "General, I'm also a man; I know what this means..."
But in the end, she did nothing at all and elegantly fainted instead.
Originally, she thought that Shen Muqing would call a few people to carry her and throw her onto the small bed beside them. However, he merely sighed, then moved to his own bed, kindly covered her with a blanket, and blew out the candle.
Yan Zhouwan's entire body was tense and stiff, like a corpse, not daring to move even a finger. She didn't know how long it had been; outside the tent, the cold wind howled incessantly, causing the tent to rustle. Yet, in the midst of this strange noise, she quietly fell asleep.
"Ah..."
The next day, just as dawn broke, the tent was filled with Yan Zhouwan's pig-like cries.
However, this sound lasted only five seconds before Shen Muqing covered her mouth with his hand.
His eyes remained closed, but his face clearly showed impatience. The corners of his mouth turned down slightly, and the dark circles under his eyes were deep, as if he hadn't slept in hundreds of years. Yan Zhouwan was puzzled by this; she remembered he hadn't looked like this when he woke up last night.
What shocked her the most was that her clothes had been removed. At that moment, she was only wearing a thin undergarment, one leg draped over his waist while the other was pressed down by one of his long legs. She had curled up in his embrace seeking warmth, even wrapping her arms around his neck. This position reminded her of that night when he had used a similar posture to approach her...
The more she thought about it, the hotter her face felt as if it were on fire, accompanied by a sense of pain. However, with Shen Muqing like this, she didn't dare to move for fear that he would wake up and discover her embarrassment. Although her chest was wrapped in cloth, it wasn't thick enough; if one were attentive enough, they could notice something unusual.
At that moment, she truly felt restless lying there.
With her eyes wide open, she dared not look around; all she could see was Shen Muqing's Adam's apple. Eventually, her eyes began to ache and feel sore until she somehow dozed off again.
When she woke up again, it was already bright outside. The cold wind continued to howl, but she felt warm all over; however, Shen Muqing was nowhere to be seen.
In an instant, she panicked and rolled off the bed. The icy touch made her shiver; it seemed much colder than it had been yesterday.
Just then, Shen Muqing walked in holding a Fox Cloak in his palm. It was gray and thick-looking, appearing very warm.
Snowflakes were scattered across his body.
"I really didn't know your sleeping posture was this bad. First, you clung to me like an octopus, and now you've rolled onto the floor early in the morning. It seems I can’t let you sleep alone anymore."
Shen Muqing looked at her disheveled appearance, shaking his head in disappointment. As he spoke, he walked closer and placed the Fox Cloak on the bed.
"It's snowing. Hurry up and put this on. Don't think that I'm doing this for your health. After all this time, it's not easy to find someone who can cook. If you freeze yourself, I'll end up starving."
To say that Shen Muqing had a sharp tongue would be an understatement. At this moment, if Xia Muxin were here, she would surely applaud him. Perhaps even Shen Muqing himself didn’t realize how cutting his words could be; they were uncomfortable to hear.
At that moment, Yan Zhouwan felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water—this was his true intention all along.
But then she thought about it; why was she competing with herself? She was not only a man now but also his subordinate.
Yet he was being too indulgent with his subordinates, and so intimate...
In the next moment, she quickly dressed and unceremoniously draped the Fox Cloak over herself, saying she would go cook before rushing out of the tent.
Once she left, Shen Muqing collapsed onto the bed. It seemed his body still needed training; after just a few steps outside, he felt utterly drained.
A faint fragrance wafted from the blanket, instantly brightening his eyes. He ran his large hand over the blanket that Yan Zhouwan had covered herself with and ultimately smiled down at it.
It seemed that Shen Muhan's previous words were heartfelt; he now understood them deeply. Unfortunately, he hadn’t realized his feelings sooner; otherwise, he might have already become a father.
In the days that followed, Shen Muqing used various excuses to keep Yan Zhouwan confined to his bed. They shared the same pillow every night, and gradually, Yan Zhouwan became accustomed to it.
Thus, a winter passed, and Shen Muqing's injuries were completely healed.
He began to lead the troops in training every day. At that moment, Yan Zhouwan deeply understood the greatness of being a general; he was not just an individual but part of a collective, embodying a supreme honor.
On the training grounds, he exuded charisma, maintaining a clear distinction between public and private matters, deeply resonating with the soldiers' hearts.
It was this very man who led these passionate warriors time and again to defend the smoke-filled battlefield, safeguarding the peace of a nation and ensuring the safety of countless citizens and their families.
Gradually, Yan Zhouwan realized she acted like a fool, going to watch Shen Muqing train every morning. Even if she only observed him from afar, it brought her satisfaction. She meticulously timed her meals to ensure that she presented food to him immediately after his training sessions and would then join him for dinner.
She spoke little, while he talked a lot, mostly teasing her.
Yet despite this dynamic, they were both very happy.
In fact, this winter was quite peaceful; there were no enemy invasions or outbreaks of unrest. As spring approached, the soldiers had little to do aside from training. However, supplies continued to arrive in batches. Each month, Yan Zhouwan would send one or two letters to Xia Muxin. She recognized some characters but not all, so whenever she had time, she would ask Shen Muqing for help. Surprisingly, Shen Muqing patiently explained each time. Over time, her vocabulary expanded, and she gradually learned to write complete letters. Naturally, she included her complaints in these letters. Today, she received a reply from Xia Muxin along with a heavy wooden box. After reading the letter, she eagerly opened the box and found it filled with various seeds.
Since this region was in the north with little rainfall unsuitable for planting rice, Xia Muxin mostly sent wheat seeds and corn. The letter was thick with instructions on how to plant them.
This could potentially reduce taxes for the common people and be beneficial for the development of the Tianli Kingdom while also making use of previously wasted land.
After categorizing the seeds, she went to prepare lunch. Once they finished eating, she proposed this idea to Shen Muqing.
Finally, Shen Muqing decided not to hide his thoughts any longer. Watching her speak animatedly with bright eyes full of dreams and hope, he calmly set down his chopsticks and said:
"Now that you've learned all of Xia Muxin's twisted logic, what’s next? Are you planning to spend your whole life by my side, planting these things, hiding your true identity forever, pretending to be a man?"
His calm words, devoid of any ripples, abruptly halted Yan Zhouwan's daydreaming. She stared at him in disbelief, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
Shen Muqing, however, reached out and pulled her into his embrace, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair. With a hint of helplessness, he said, "After sharing the same bed for so long, are you still unwilling to forgive me?"
He had a cleanliness obsession; even Shen Muhan would never be allowed near his bed, let alone a small soldier who was the first to cook for him.
Yet, Yan Zhouwan didn’t delve deeper into this matter and was unaware that he behaved this way in the barracks. Over time, she had grown accustomed to this way of interacting.
After hesitating for a long while, she finally managed to choke out, "You..."
However, with just that one word, Shen Muqing lowered his head and swallowed her unfinished sentence. Yan Zhouwan was caught off guard by his kiss; lacking experience, her face turned crimson within seconds as she nearly gasped for breath.
Shen Muqing reluctantly released her but lingered on her lips, causing her to shiver. In a hoarse voice, she finally said, "I recognized you from the very first day you arrived. I just didn’t want to break this beautiful moment. So I thought of various ways to get close to you, even going so far as to despicably tie you to my bed. That way, I would never have to worry about waking up and not seeing you again."
Was he confessing?
Yan Zhouwan felt a flutter in her heart, unable to find any other sensation at that moment.
“Zhou Zhou, please give me another chance. Let me take care of you for a lifetime.”
Seeing her remain silent, Shen Muqing grew anxious. He cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze, speaking with deep affection and a hint of pleading.
“When did you start noticing me?”
Yan Zhouwan had been troubled, wondering if it was because Shen Muhan had told him about her background and experiences that he felt sympathy for her. After all, her appearance had not fully recovered, especially the scar from where she had carved away the mark. Even though it had healed, a faint scar remained visible if she tucked her bangs behind her ears. The scars on her neck had faded, but that particular mark could never return.
As she asked the question, her body trembled slightly.
No one is indifferent to their appearance, and no one disregards their past. She had once lived like a walking corpse, numbly repeating the same actions every day. Her only thought was to take revenge for her family. However, in the end, others avenged her while her heart gradually warmed. She never expected to encounter him again and become so deeply entangled that she couldn't extricate herself.
She had tried more than once to convince herself that their differing statuses made it impossible for them to be together. He had taken her innocence and treated her with indifference and even disdain. In that moment, she thought she could truly withdraw her heart and live simply alone; that would be better than anything else.
Yet, the final outcome was something she could never have imagined. She never thought they would be sitting at the same table for a meal or sharing the same bed.
And he was so deeply affectionate as he confessed his feelings to her.
However, she also had her pride and did not need sympathy. If possible, she would rather live this way for a lifetime without him discovering her true identity; otherwise, she would feel like she was degrading herself.
“This... I can’t really remember. Perhaps it was when you secretly looked at me for the first time.”
Shen Muqing had little experience with women. To this day, aside from his mother, the only family he felt close to was Xia Muxin's. His understanding of women was minimal. He still remembered when he first arrived at the Xia Family; there was always a burning gaze on him from behind. Every time he turned to look, that gaze would vanish. As a general tasked with protecting the nation, he despised those who lurked in the shadows, even if it was just the way someone looked at him.
Having spent so long in the military, accustomed to being treated with respect and obedience, things were different at the Xia Family. Xia Muxin would give him cold looks, and he even had to pay for his lodging. After a few misunderstandings regarding her kindness, she began to act like a hedgehog, bristling with defensiveness and even arguing back at him. Eventually, Xia Muxin assigned them both to a team to make bread.
He admitted that during that time, he did nothing but serve as a decoration, watching her come and go, busy with her tasks. She never asked him to do anything. It was then that he truly noticed this woman whose appearance was not particularly striking.
Of course, they already shared a deeper connection by then.
As the scars on her face gradually faded, her delicate beauty began to emerge. Several times, he dreamt of Zhou Zhou, but each time the image shifted, and Zhou Zhou transformed into the current Yan Zhouwan.
He had doubted himself, struggled internally, and even used his connections to investigate Yan Zhouwan. In the end, he found himself unable to face her and began to lose clarity about his own feelings. Just seeing Sheng Ziyi approach her and her smile directed at Sheng Ziyi made him furious enough to want to kill.
However, now he had completely understood his heart. Regardless of whether she was Zhou Zhou or not, he had already fallen—completely fallen...
Then his response brought fulfillment to Yan Zhouwan.
Her heart was small and ungreedy; all she wanted was a pure relationship. She didn't expect to be cherished like Shen Muhan cherished Xia Muxin, but at the very least, she wanted to be placed first in his thoughts.
Just as he held a special place in her heart—even after being hurt—she still prioritized him every single day.
In this way, their past grievances were resolved.
Yan Zhouwan immediately began explaining her planting goals, which received unanimous approval from the soldiers.
After all, those who served in the military often came from poor families. If this could reduce their taxes, it meant more food for their mothers and younger siblings at home. In that case, their hard work would be worthwhile and bring them joy.
Shen Muqing personally took the lead, and for half a month at the beginning of spring, the entire northern dry land was bustling with the figures of farmers. The nearby villagers learned of the general's initiative and came to volunteer their labor for free, eager to help.
After all, when it came to planting, the common people understood it better than they did, while Yan Zhouwan merely guided the plans. During this time, she was most diligent in sending letters to Xia Muxin, and she received just as many in return.
Some of the plans were provided by Xia Muxin, and all she needed to do was guide everyone in implementing them.
Two months later, the once barren dry land was now a vibrant tender green. At the same time, Xia Muxin sweetly coaxed Shen Muhan to continue offering valuable suggestions to Tian Mingrui, urging him to keep digging rivers and to carve out a waterway along the borders so that the entire Tianli Kingdom would no longer suffer from droughts while also reducing the risk of floods surrounding villages.
Tian Mingrui was very receptive to Shen Muhan's various suggestions. Not only did he announce this initiative widely, but he also encouraged officials and merchants across the regions to donate money and provide assistance. Under Xia Muxin's proposal, they even began recruiting volunteers nationwide.
This initiative created a sensation throughout Celestial Glass. The common people wholeheartedly supported it; as long as there were strong individuals in a household, they willingly signed up. This not only benefited their descendants but also alleviated various disasters for themselves, all while earning wages.
That year, various improvements took place in the Tianli Kingdom, and the people were filled with joy and gratitude, rallying behind their current emperor, Tian Mingrui.
- End of Chapter -
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