Chapter 131 -
The thick door flap of their sleeping tent dropped shut, cutting off the freezing wind outside. Wenzhe carried her straight to the center of the room and gently set her down on the soft, fur-covered bed.
Before Yueqing could even smooth down her dress, two young maids quickly stepped inside, carrying buckets of warm water and clean towels.
Wenzhe stood up and looked down at Yueqing. His torn shirt still hung loosely off his shoulder, showing his bare chest and the white bandage on his arm.
"I am going to the secondary tent to wash up and change," Wenzhe said, his voice deep and stern. He narrowed his eyes at her playfully. "Stay awake until I get back. Do not dare fall asleep, or I will punish you."
Yueqing sagged back against the soft pillows, crossing her arms and acting like she didn’t care at all.
As soon as Wenzhe stepped out into the cold night, Yueqing coughed softly and rolled her eyes at the empty doorway.
"You can’t do anything," she muttered under her breath with a tiny smirk.
[Punish me?] her inner voice scoffed, her mind rolling around on a tiny bed. [What are you going to do, make me eat extra capital cakes? I’m exhausted! I just saved your arm and solved your military treason plot!]
The maids bowed politely and stepped forward to help her get ready for bed. They carefully unpinned her long dark hair, letting it fall smoothly over her shoulders. They helped her take off her heavy riding robes and changed her into a thin, soft inner garment.
Even though it was already very late, the military camp outside was still noisy and active. Footsteps, muffled shouts, and the crackle of fire pits echoed through the canvas walls.
Despite the noise outside, Yueqing’s eyes felt heavy. She crawled under the thick, warm blankets and pulled them right up to her chin, her eyelids fluttering shut almost instantly.
A maid walked over to check on her, seeing that the Young Madam was already fast asleep. The maid smiled softly and blew out most of the lanterns in the room, leaving only a single small lamp burning near the tea table.
The tent became dark and quiet, bathed in a soft, warm glow. Yueqing snuggled deeper into the furs, fast asleep, completely ignoring the General’s strict warning.
...
Wenzhe stood alone in the dim, warm light of the single lantern. He wore only a thin, dark inner robe, loosely tied at his waist. His damp hair fell freely over his broad shoulders, and the fresh white bandage wrapped around his left forearm stood out against his golden skin.
He walked slowly toward the large bed, his quiet footsteps making no sound on the thick animal rugs.
Yueqing was fast asleep, buried under a pile of heavy furs. Her dark hair was spread out across the white pillows like silk, and her face looked soft and peaceful in the shadowy light.
Wenzhe stopped right beside the bed. He folded his arms across his broad chest, leaning back slightly as his dark eyes looked down at her small, sleeping face. A low, fond smirk touched the corner of his lips.
"I told you not to fall asleep," Wenzhe whispered softly, his deep voice floating through the quiet room.
He leaned down closer, his warm shadow completely covering her.
"Now I will have to punish you."
Yueqing shifted under the heavy blankets, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh.
[Hmm... who is talking so loud?] her sleepy mind mumbled lazily. [System Nine, kick them out... I’m trying to dream about cakes...]
[System 009: Emergency Alert: Host! Wake up! Target Wenzhe has entered the room in a thin robe! He is currently hovering over you! Danger level: Very high!]
[Shut up, Nine...] Yueqing groaned internally, her long eyelashes fluttering as she slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Wenzhe’s handsome, shadowy face just inches away from hers. She blinked once, twice, her eyes taking in his bare chest peeking through his open robe and his sharp, dark eyes staring right into hers.
Yueqing’s heart instantly did a wild backflip in her chest.
"Ah!" she gasped, pulling the blanket all the way up to her nose, her eyes wide with shock. "W-When did you get back?!"
"Just now," Wenzhe replied smoothly. He uncrossed his arms, placed his large hands on either side of her head, and leaned down even lower until his nose almost touched hers. "And I see my Young Madam completely ignored my order."
"I was tired!" Yueqing argued, her voice slightly muffled behind the thick blanket. "I saved your arm! You can’t blame me for getting sleepy!"
"I warned you," Wenzhe whispered, his voice dropping into a low, raspy tone that sent a hot shiver down her spine. His hand reached down, gently pulling the edge of the blanket away from her face, exposing her red cheeks and thin inner garment. "And a General always keeps his word."
"What do you think you’re going to do, you block of wood?" Yueqing challenged, her voice filled with feigned bravado even as her breath hitched. She tried to keep her chin tilted up arrogantly, her inner persona practically throwing a pillow at his head.
Wenzhe just looked down at her, a slow, breathtaking smile curving his lips in the dim lantern light.
Before she could say another word, he moved. With one swift, smooth motion, he yanked the heavy fur blanket completely off her, flipped it over himself, and slid right under the covers.
"Hey—!" Yueqing gasped, her words cutting off in a sharp intake of air as his weight settled over her.
Wenzhe didn’t give her a chance to complain. Slipping beneath the dark warmth of the furs, he shifted straight down her body. His hands slid firmly under the hem of her thin inner garment, lifting it past her knees as his lips pressed a hot, lingering kiss right against the soft skin of her inner thigh.
Yueqing’s hands instantly clutched at the sheets beneath her, her toes curling as a fiery shiver shot up her entire leg.
"W-Wenzhe!" she squeaked, her voice betraying every bit of her attempt to stay cool and unbothered.
[WAIT A MINUTE!] her mind shrieked in absolute, chaotic panic, her internal persona waving two big red flags in the air. [System Nine! System Nine! Is this the punishment?! He’s starting from the legs?! Why is his mouth so warm?!]