Chapter 49: The Sixth Prince’s Silent Kindness
She even left the thickest blanket for him, just in case he started shivering during the freezing night.
To be honest, she felt cold too. But compared to someone who suffered from cold poison, she knew her discomfort was nothing. So she quietly accepted it without a single complaint.
By the time Rong Shuyan returned to the tent, Lin Xueyi had already fallen asleep.
The long journey from Prince Rui’s manor to the military border had exhausted her. On top of that, she had spent the entire day worrying about the hidden trail, making sure the soldiers searched it properly, and dealing with the useless Rong Yunzhou.
By the end of the day, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and sleep.
The next morning, Lin Xueyi slowly opened her eyes while curling deeper beneath her blanket. The air inside the tent was bitterly cold. Even with the iron stove, it was nothing like sleeping inside a manor with thick walls to keep out the wind.
As she pulled the blanket closer around herself, Lin Xueyi suddenly realized there was another blanket covering her.
She immediately turned toward Rong Shuyan’s bed, only to find it already empty.
Then her eyes fell on the extra blanket wrapped around her. It was the very same thick blanket she clearly remembered placing on Rong Shuyan’s bed the night before, making it obvious that he had covered her with it while she was asleep.
[He should have kept it for himself,] Lin Xueyi thought. [But the blanket really is warm.]
More than that, Rong Shuyan’s thoughtful gesture warmed her heart as well.
Even though she still wanted to sleep a little longer, Lin Xueyi forced herself out of bed. If someone as sick as Rong Shuyan could wake up before sunrise and begin his day, then there was no reason she couldn’t do the same.
She washed her face and simply wiped her body with a warm cloth since she had already bathed the night before. After changing into a fresh set of clothes and making sure her hair and robes were neat, she stepped out of the tent.
Mei Lu, who had been waiting outside, immediately walked over with a smile. "Princess Consort, today’s breakfast is meat porridge with shredded dried venison, freshly steamed buns, pickled vegetables, and hot ginger tea. But I can prepare something else for you if you’d like."
Compared to the luxurious breakfasts served at Prince Rui’s manor, this meal was humble. Still, the hot porridge and steaming tea looked especially comforting in the freezing morning air.
She shook her head with a smile. "No, this is enough. Everyone is eating the same food, right?"
"Yes, Princess Consort."
"Then I’ll have the same as everyone else."
Mei Lu nodded and led her toward the dining tent.
The dining tent was already filled with soldiers sitting shoulder to shoulder on long wooden benches. Some had bandages wrapped around their arms or heads, while others were still rubbing sleep from their eyes after spending the night on patrol.
The moment Lin Xueyi entered, many soldiers instinctively looked her way. Unlike yesterday, however, their gazes carried more curiosity than doubt.
Several of them even stood up and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Princess Consort."
Lin Xueyi smiled and returned the greeting before sitting quietly with Mei Lu at one end of the long table.
Soon, a large wooden bowl of steaming meat porridge was placed in front of her, along with two soft steamed buns, a small dish of pickled vegetables, and a cup of hot ginger tea.
The porridge was simple but filling. The shredded venison added a rich flavor, while the ginger tea warmed her body almost immediately.
[This is actually pretty good!]
Besides, it wasn’t as if Lin Xueyi had been born a noble in her previous life. As long as the food was edible, she had never been picky.
While Lin Xueyi was eating breakfast with the soldiers, Rong Shuyan was already inside the Command Tent. Several generals and scouts stood around the large military map spread across the table.
One of the scouts stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Your Highness, we’ve continued searching the eastern forest since dawn. We found more footprints along the hidden trail. Judging by the tracks, several hundred people have passed through there recently, but there are no signs of a large force gathering yet."
Rong Shuyan nodded. "Keep watching them. Do not alert the enemy."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Another officer stepped forward. "The food supplies have all been moved safely to the eastern warehouse overnight. We’ve also doubled the guards around the warehouse and stationed additional archers on the nearby watchtowers."
"Any problems during the transfer?" Rong Shuyan asked.
"None. Everything arrived safely."
Rong Shuyan had intentionally ordered a large number of guards to protect the eastern warehouse. He wanted the Southern Wolf Tribe to truly believe that the Imperial Army had moved all of its food supplies there.
However, he had also given those guards another order: the moment the Southern Wolf Tribe attacked, they were to retreat without hesitation.
That way, the Southern Wolf Tribe would believe the Imperial soldiers were nothing more than cowards. Once they became overconfident and lowered their guard, it would be easier to take them down.
Just as Rong Shuyan was about to give his next order, the tent flap was suddenly pulled open.
A loud yawn echoed through the Command Tent. "Why is everyone awake so early?"
Rong Yunzhou strolled inside with messy hair and half-lidded eyes, looking more like a man who had just left his bed than a general arriving for a military meeting.
Several officers exchanged awkward glances but remained silent. Rong Yunzhou looked around before letting out another yawn.
"The sun has barely risen. Couldn’t this meeting have waited another hour?" He stretched lazily. "You soldiers really like making life difficult for yourselves."
Rong Shuyan slowly lifted his eyes from the military map. "The enemy won’t wait another hour just because the Second Prince wishes to sleep."
Rong Yunzhou clicked his tongue. "Oh, come now. We’ve only been here for one day. Do you really think the Southern Wolf Tribe will attack this morning?"