Chapter 120 -
For a full ten seconds, the entire northern camp seemed to lose its ability to breathe.
Dozens of rough, battle-hardened soldiers stood frozen in mid-stride some holding heavy wooden crates, others gripping spears staring back and forth between their formidable, terrifying General and the delicate noblewoman in purple silk who was pointing an accusing finger right back at him.
General Dong Li, standing half a step behind Wenzhe, blinked slowly. He looked at Su Yueqing, looked at Wenzhe, and then rubbed his eyes as if he were seeing a ghost.
[HE’S ALIVE?!] Yueqing’s mind shrieked at a volume that made Wenzhe’s left eye give a tiny, involuntary twitch. [HE IS ACTUALLY ALIVE?! No bleeding cuts?! No missing limbs?! Not even a single scratch on his stupid, handsome face?! System, explain this right now! Did you lie to me about Red Cliff Pass?! I spent hours having my spine crushed inside a wooden box, and he’s just standing here looking fine?!]
Wenzhe took long, heavy strides across the gravel, stopping directly in front of Yueqing. He towered over her, his dark eyes wide with pure, unadulterated shock.
"What are you doing here?!" Wenzhe demanded, his deep voice cutting sharply through the freezing morning air.
Yueqing flinched, pulling her hand back to press it against her aching chest. She forced her chin up, trying to keep her cool, haughty posture despite her knees feeling like warm pudding.
"Is that how you greet your lawful wife, Wenzhe?" Yueqing retorted, her voice sharp. "Do you think I wanted to come to this desolate, freezing wasteland?!"
[I REALLY DIDN’T!] her inner voice wailed, her mental persona dramatically falling onto its knees and weeping. [I WAS KIDNAPPED BY YOUR MOTHER! She sent me here with eight scary shadow guards, two old doctors, and a box of herbs! I begged her! I told her I had carriage sickness! But your scary mother didn’t care! She threw me into a carriage at dawn!]
Wenzhe stared at her. Looking at her tired, flushed face and hearing the chaotic, screaming panic inside her head, he suddenly realized something. He had acted too fast he couldn’t let her, or anyone else, suspect that he had been hearing her thoughts this whole time.
He quickly masked his surprise, stiffening his posture and maintaining a stern, guarded expression.
Before Yueqing could speak again, her head maid stepped forward nervously, bowing low to Wenzhe to answer the General properly.
"Reporting to General Xi," the maid said, her voice trembling slightly in the presence of the formidable commander. "Her Grace, the Duchess, ordered us to travel with the fast supply group. Her Grace was deeply worried about the slow medical carriages and insisted that the Young Madam come along to bring emergency medicines and show support for the troops."
Wenzhe listened silently, using the maid’s explanation as his cover. He looked down at Yueqing, his brow furrowing as if he were processing the Duchess’s reckless decision for the first time.
"My mother sent you all the way to the front lines?" Wenzhe asked, keeping his tone firm and strict, though his eyes softened just a fraction as he looked at Yueqing’s tired face. "To a war camp? That is completely foolish."
Yueqing crossed her arms, turning her head away with a proud huff. "Her Grace’s orders are absolute, Wenzhe. Do you expect me to disobey your own mother?"
[Exactly! Blame her, not me!] Yueqing yelled in her head, rolling her eyes so hard her brain hurt. [She literally used me as a human shield! And now I am stuck here with zero luxury, zero warm tea, and a husband who looks like he wants to interrogate me!]
Standing a few feet away, Li Mei lowered her head, her cream-colored sleeves fluttering in the wind. She looked at Wenzhe with soft, hopeful eyes, stepping forward slightly. "General Xi... the medical supplies from the rear guard have arrived safely as well. I—"
"Dong Li," Wenzhe interrupted smoothly, not turning his head toward Li Mei. His focus remained entirely on Yueqing’s pale, exhausted face. "Have the logistics team take charge of the medical crates and assign a tent for the rear staff."
Dong Li snapped to attention. "Understood, General!" He quickly ushered Li Mei and the supply crew toward the storage area, leaving Wenzhe and Yueqing standing near the luxury carriage.
Wenzhe took a step closer to Yueqing. Dark circles sat under her bright eyes, her lips were chapped from the northern wind, and her hair had a few stray strands slipping loose. She looked completely worn out from the brutal journey.
"You look awful," Wenzhe said quietly.
Yueqing’s eyes widened in sheer outrage.
"How dare you?!" Yueqing gasped, her voice rising in offense. "I survived hours on a road made of jagged rocks! I haven’t slept! My waist is breaking! And the first thing you say to me is that I look awful?!"
[YOU UNGRATEFUL WOODEN BLOCK!] her mind roared in pure fury, her mental persona grabbing a giant wooden mallet and smashing Wenzhe’s head in her imagination. [I came all this way! My back feels like it was run over by an ox cart! I spent the whole night worrying that your head got chopped off at Red Cliff Pass, and you have the nerve to insult my face?!]
Wenzhe’s lips twitched. A tiny, almost invisible smile touched the corner of his mouth before he quickly forced it down, carefully keeping his face neutral so she wouldn’t guess he could hear every word.
He reached out, unclasping his own heavy, fox-fur lined black cloak. Stepping forward, he wrapped the massive garment around her shoulders, completely covering her small frame in his broad, warm scent.
Yueqing blinked, suddenly drowning in heavy black wool and the scent of cold steel.
"What... what are you doing?" she mumbled, her voice faltering as she looked up at him through the big fur collar.
"It is freezing," Wenzhe said simply, pulling the ties of the cloak tight around her neck. "And you complain too much when you are cold."
Yueqing froze, her cheeks burning red from the sudden gesture.
[Wait...] Yueqing’s mind stumbled, her internal screeches suddenly dropping into a confused whisper. [Why is he giving me his coat?! Is this a trap?! Is he going to execute me later and use my coat as a rug?! System, he’s acting weird! Is he possessed?!]
DING!
[System 009: Male Lead’s vital signs are normal. Host’s heart rate, however, is elevated.]
[SHUT UP NINE!] Yueqing yelled in her head, clutching the heavy fur cloak tightly around herself.
Wenzhe looked down at her, maintaining his calm, serious commander persona. "My tent has a heated charcoal stove. Come inside before you catch a fever."
He turned to walk toward the main command tent, but when he didn’t hear her behind him, he paused and looked back over his shoulder.
Yueqing was still standing in the exact same spot, pouting as her maid gently patted her lower back.
"My waist hurts," Yueqing grumbled under her breath, looking away stubbornly. "I can’t walk."
Wenzhe let out a long, quiet sigh, though the glint in his eyes was warm. Remembering he had to act like a normal husband who didn’t know her hidden thoughts, he walked back, lifted her into his arms like a bundle of silk and heavy fur, and carried her straight toward the central tent while half the army watched in absolute, stunned silence.
[WHAT IS HAPPENING?!] Yueqing’s mind screamed into the heavens as her face buried itself straight into his armored chest. [PUT ME DOWN! MY REPUTATION IS COMPLETELY RUINED!]