Chapter 111 -
By the time the thundering sound of horse hooves faded into the distance, the Xi Estate had settled into a heavy, suffocating silence.
The rain poured down without mercy, washing away the mud and bloody water near the main gates.
Inside her quiet, dimly lit bedroom, Sue Yueqing sat on the edge of her bed, her knees pulled tight against her chest. The room felt freezing without her white fox cloak, but she didn’t bother wrapping herself in a blanket.
[Nine,] Yueqing called out in her mind, her voice flat. [Is he gone?]
DING!
[System: Host, Male Lead Wenzhe and his vanguard have officially crossed the main estate gates. They are heading north toward the border pass. Master Xi has departed for the imperial capital.]
Yueqing let out a small, dry laugh, resting her chin on her knees.
[Good. The sooner he gets to the border, the sooner he comes back victorious, and the sooner we can get this stupid storyline back on track.]
DING!
[System: Host... there is an additional update. System sensors indicate that Lady Li Mei has also left the estate. She is currently traveling with the rear supply carriage following Young Master Wenzhe’s troop.]
Yueqing froze. Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing in utter disbelief.
[WHAT?!] she shouted in her head, throwing her hands up. [She WENT WITH HIM?! To a WAR ZONE?! Is she insane?! Is HE insane?!]
DING!
[System: Host, after the incident in the bedchamber, Lady Li Mei attempted self-harm. To prevent further extreme behavior, the Male Lead agreed to bring her along in the rear medical carriage.]
Yueqing stared blankly at the far wall, her mind spinning so fast she felt dizzy.
[Self-harm? A medical carriage?!] She rubbed her temples, groaning in sheer frustration. [I literally told him to take her as his escort maid so he wouldn’t be sex-deprived, and the idiot ACTUALLY TOOK HER! What kind of male lead takes his white lotus to a bloody military border battle?! Is this a romance novel or a comedy of errors?!]
She flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the dark ceiling wooden beams.
[Fine. Let them go. Let them play out their dramatic, emotional war-romance at the border. When he comes back, I’m going to demand a divorce paper signed in gold ink. I am SO done with this entire house.]
Meanwhile, miles away on the dark, muddy mountain road, three hundred heavy cavalry rode through the howling wind and rain.
At the front of the line, Wenzhe rode his coal-black warhorse. His left hand held the reins tightly, wrapped in thick white linen bandages where the dagger had sliced his palm.
Tucked safely inside his heavy leather saddlebag, wrapped tightly in oilskin to protect it from the pouring rain, was the pristine white fox cloak Yueqing had given him.
His face was grim, his eyes locked on the dark road ahead.
"Master!" Dong Li called out over the sound of thunder, riding his horse up alongside Wenzhe. "The rear supply carriage with Lady Li Mei is keeping pace! At this speed, we will reach the lower border fortress before sunrise!"
Wenzhe didn’t answer right away. He kept his gaze fixed on the horizon, but his heart felt strangely empty and heavy.
Every time he closed his eyes, he didn’t see the dark mountain pass ahead. He didn’t see Li Mei’s crying face or her bloody wrist.
All he could see was the icy, distant look in Sue Yueqing’s eyes when she threw the coat at his chest. All he could hear was her sharp, bitter voice telling him that if he died on the battlefield, she would be the happiest person on earth.
Does she really hate me that much? Wenzhe thought, his knuckles turning white around the reins.
He gripped his sword hilt, a cold determination settling into his chest.
"Double the pace!" Wenzhe ordered, his voice cutting through the storm like thunder. "We end this battle fast. We lock down the pass, crush the enemy, and return to the capital before the week ends!"
The next morning, the heavy rain had finally stopped, leaving the courtyard damp and washed in a cool, grey fog.
In the main dining hall of the Xi Estate, a grand breakfast spread of hot porridge, steamed buns, and fine tea was set across the long wooden table. Despite the abundant food, the atmosphere was quiet and solemn.
Seated at the head of the hall was Madame Xi. Beside her sat Aunt Rongyue.
Aunt Rongyue sighed softly, setting down her teacup with a gentle clatter. Her face was full of worry. "The storm was so fierce last night. Wenzhe and his father rode out in the middle of all that thunder... I couldn’t sleep a wink thinking about the cold mountain pass."
Madame Xi took a calm sip of her hot tea, her expression steady and composed like a grand matriarch.
"There is no need to fret, Rongyue," Madame Xi said smoothly, her tone full of quiet confidence. "Wenzhe has been fighting on the front lines since he was seventeen. Master Xi and my son know the northern border better than anyone. He will return victorious, just as he always does."
Lanyin nodded in agreement, though her eyes flicked toward the empty seat where Sue Yueqing usually sat. "Mother is right. Elder Brother’s martial skills are unmatched. A minor border skirmish won’t hold him back for long."
"Still..." Qianqian murmured, wrapping her delicate hands around her warm bowl. "Riding without rest right after returning from a long journey must be exhausting."
Yunchen nodded solemnly beside his brother, while Gu Yue quietly poured more tea for Madame Xi.
Suddenly, Yunhao put down his chopsticks, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.
"Mother," Yunhao spoke up, looking up at Madame Xi with wide eyes. "If Elder Brother went out on an urgent military expedition... why did he take the maid Li Mei with him in the rear supply carriage?"
The entire dining hall instantly went quiet.
Qianqian’s hand froze mid-air. Lanyin frowned sharply, her eyebrows pulling together in immediate suspicion. Yunchen turned to look at Yunhao in total shock, while Gu Xiang’s eyes flicked over to Madame Xi to gauge her reaction.
Madame Xi set her teacup down on the wooden saucer with a dull clink. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What did you say, Yunhao?"
"Yunchen and I saw it early this morning before they crossed the outer gates," Yunhao explained quickly, realizing the mood had suddenly shifted. "The guards said Li Mei was assigned to the medical carriage following the rear troop. Is she going to serve him at the war camp?"
Lanyin scoffed, a look of pure disgust crossing her face. "Taking a maid to a bloody border battle? What kind of nonsense is this? Elder Brother would never be so reckless on the battlefield. Who permitted her to follow?!"
Aunt Rongyue looked flustered. "Could it be that she begged to go? But even so, a war zone is no place for a maid..."
Just as the quiet murmurs began to spread around the table, light, steady footsteps echoed from the outer hallway.
Sue Yueqing walked into the dining hall.