Chapter 122 -
Once the tent flap fell shut behind Wenzhe, the thick silence of the commander’s quarters washed over Su Yueqing.
She turned around, pulling his heavy fur cloak tighter around her shoulders, and took her first proper look at his personal space. To her absolute surprise, it wasn’t a cramped, miserable military rag as she had dramatically envisioned. It was massive easily the size of her main courtyard chamber back in the capital.
In the far corner, Wenzhe’s heavy silver and iron armor hung neatly on a sturdy wooden armor rack, polished and intimidating even without its master inside it. Near the center stood a colossal wooden battle table, overflowing with detailed terrain maps, ink pots, tactical scrolls, and carved wooden markers representing army divisions. Against the back wall sat a proper, sturdy bed frame with a thick mattress—though it only had two thin, plain army blankets folded at the foot.
Two iron fire pits crackled softly, filling the space with warm charcoal heat, while oiled paper lanterns hung from the heavy wooden support beams, casting a golden, cozy glow across the entire space.
[Okay, fine,] Yueqing admitted begrudgingly in her head, poking a finger at one of the tactical maps. [It’s actually pretty nice. It smells like cedarwood instead of wet dog, and it’s warmer than my own carriage. He even has a real bed! Though those plain blankets look like they were woven from scratchy horsehair. How does a general sleep under paper-thin felt?!]
While she was silently critiquing his interior design choices, one of her personal maids gently pushed open the entrance flap and bowed low.
"Young Madam," the maid called out softly, stepping inside. "The guards have cleared out the adjacent tent for you as the General ordered. However, it will take at least another hour or two to set up the charcoal stove, transport your heavy trunks, and assemble your luxury bed. Would Young Madam prefer to eat her evening meal here in the main tent while waiting?"
Yueqing rolled her eyes, letting out a long, theatrical sigh.
"Set up the stove? Transport my trunks? In this freezing wind?" Yueqing scoffed, waving her hand dismissively as if the very thought exhausted her. "Forget it! Do you expect me to sit around in a drafty, half-empty tent like a displaced refugee while you struggle with heavy furniture?!"
She turned around and flopped directly onto Wenzhe’s surprisingly comfortable bed, pulling his soft fur cloak all the way up to her chin.
"Tell the guards to leave my things right here," Yueqing commanded, resting her head against the headboard with absolute entitlement. "I am staying in this tent for the night. Tell the kitchen to bring my dinner here, make it hot, and make sure there are no spicy peppers in it!"
[Hah!] Yueqing’s mental voice cheered in pure, chaotic triumph, her inner persona practically kicking its feet in the air. [I win! I get the big heated tent, the warm bed, AND the double fire pits! Wenzhe can sleep on a cold wooden bench in the strategy room for all I care! That’s what he gets for insulting my face after a twelve-hour carriage ride!]
The maid blinked, thoroughly confused by her mistress’s sudden, complete reversal after fighting so loudly with the General just ten minutes ago, but bowed quickly. "Yes, Young Madam! Right away!"
Su Yueqing pulled Wenzhe’s warm coat closer around her. It was heavy, soft, and kept out the cold wind.
She felt very tired from her long trip. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow, ready to sleep until her dinner came.
Then, she looked across the room.
Standing by the door was a wooden coat rack. Hanging right there was her own fur coat. It was clean, neat, and dry.
Yueqing blinked.
She looked at her fur coat. Then she looked down at the big black coat wrapped around her shoulders.
Her coat had been inside the warm tent the whole time. Wenzhe knew her coat was already here before he walked outside to meet her. But when she said she was cold, he did not tell her to come inside to get her coat. He just took off his own big coat, wrapped her up, and carried her in.
Yueqing stared at her coat in surprise, her eyes wide. Her face turned bright red, and she quickly pulled Wenzhe’s coat over her nose to hide her face.
By the time Wenzhe finished his meetings with the men, late night had settled deep over the border plain.
Outside, the camp was still noisy. Hundreds of soldiers were awake, shouting across the grounds, moving supply carts, and gathering around roaring bonfires to keep off the biting chill.
The air had grown dangerously cold. Since Wenzhe had given his heavy fur cloak to Yueqing earlier, he walked back to his tent wearing only his inner armor robes. The icy mountain wind cut straight to his bones, making his breath rise in thick white clouds, but he kept his steps steady.
He pushed open the heavy canvas flap, eager to stand near the iron fire pits. He fully expected the tent to be empty, assuming Yueqing had already moved into her own private quarters.
Instead, he stopped dead in his tracks.
The command tent had completely changed.
The once bare, military space now looked like a luxury bedroom straight out of the capital. Extra fire pits had been dragged inside, crackling with fresh wood and filling the entire space with deep, cozy heat. On the small tea table by the bed, plates of dried fruits, pastries, and a pot of steaming warm tea were neatly set out. The bed itself had doubled in thick, plush blankets, looking warm, and inviting.
And sitting right in the middle of that warm bed, wrapped tightly in those thick blankets, was Su Yueqing.
She hadn’t been able to catch a single minute of sleep. Every time she tried to drift off, her aching back throbbed, making her toss and turn in frustration.
The moment the tent flap opened, Yueqing felt the burst of cold air and raised her head, her tired eyes locking onto him.
"You..." Yueqing mumbled, her voice raspy from exhaustion. "You finally returned, huh?"
Wenzhe stared at her, then looked at the extra fires, the tea, and the stacked blankets. He rolled his eyes, a dry smirk touching his lips despite the freezing air clinging to his bare arms.
"Why are you still here?" Wenzhe asked, walking closer to the crackling fire pit to warm his numb hands. "Didn’t you yell at me earlier about wanting your own private tent?"