Chapter 252 -

Chapter 252: Chapter

Nine slowly pulled back from her lips, a cheeky, amused smile spreading across his handsome face. He looked down at her red, flushed cheeks and raised an eyebrow.

"Well," Nine said smoothly, standing up from the bed and straightening his coat. "Since you’re clearly not interested, I guess I’ll take my leave now."

Without waiting for her reply, he turned around and walked out of the tent, slipping through the curtain into the cold night air.

Lu Yue quickly sat up on her bed, her mind completely spinning. She stared at the empty tent entrance, her breath coming out in fast, short gasps. Her lips were still burning, and her heart was pounding like wild thunder in her chest.

[What just happened?!] she thought, her face completely bright red as she held her dress tight against her chest.

She couldn’t believe that glutton had just kissed her, twice!

"You absolute jerk!" Lu Yue cursed under her breath, punching her soft pillow in frustration before burying her glowing face into her hands.

The next morning came quickly, bringing a cold, crisp breeze across the northern camp.

Yueqing walked out of the command tent, wearing a thick, warm cloak. She was making her way toward the main carriage. Today, she was riding along to follow Wenzhe all the way to the secret army base.

They had to gather the new soldiers and train them far away in a hidden location, so the Empress and her spies in the northern City wouldn’t find out what they were planning.

As Yueqing walked along the dirt path toward the carriage, Nine suddenly jogged over, a sly grin on his face as he came to tease her.

"Good morning, Host!" Nine called out, stepping right beside her. "Did you sleep well last night? Or was the General keeping you... too busy to get any rest?"

Yueqing turned to glare at Nine, her cheeks turning slightly pink at his mischievous words. "Nine, if you don’t shut your mouth right now, I will personally turn your system core into a stone statue and throw it in the river!"

Nine gasped dramatically, slapping a hand over his chest as if he had been shot through the heart. "Host! How can you be so cruel to your loyal system?! I am just concerned about your physical health! After all, hearing you make those sweet moans all night long kept the whole northern camp awake!"

"I did NOT make moans all night long!" Yueqing shrieked, her face exploding into a fiery red blush as she stomped her foot on the dirt path. "You perverted, useless glutton! You were probably out stealing food from the kitchen the entire night!"

"Hey! Stealing is a very strong word," Nine scoffed, rolling his eyes proudly. "I was doing tactical reconnaissance on the cook’s hot rice cakes! And besides, at least I didn’t break the wooden bed frame like a certain giant General!"

"You—!" Yueqing was so mad her breath hitched. She reached down, picked up a heavy pinecone from the ground, and threw it straight at his forehead. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Nine ducked easily, the pinecone flying right past his ear. He let out a loud, mocking laugh, wiggling his eyebrows at her. "Truth hurts, doesn’t it, Host?"

Before Yueqing could grab a second pinecone, Lu Yue came walking over to check on the carriage. But the moment her eyes landed on Nine standing next to Yueqing, she froze mid-step, her face instantly turning as bright red as a hot pepper.

All the memories of last night his soft kisses, his arrogant smirk, and his shameless three-minute wager came flooding back to her mind like a wild wave.

Lu Yue immediately turned her head away, completely ignoring Nine as if he were made of air. She marched straight past him to the carriage door, focusing entirely on her duties as Yueqing’s chief guard.

"Young Madame, please get inside," Lu Yue said quickly, holding the heavy wooden door open so Yueqing could climb up into the soft seats. "The wind is cold this morning, and we need to head out soon."

Nine leaned back casually against the carriage wheel, watching Lu Yue try so hard to pretend he didn’t exist. A cheeky, handsome smirk spread right across his face.

"Good morning to you too, Guard Lu," Nine greeted cheerfully, stepping closer just to push her buttons. "Did you sleep well last night? No wild, breathless dreams, I hope?"

Lu Yue shut the carriage door with a sharp SNAP, then turned around to face him. She gripped the heavy hilt of her sword tight, glaring at him with angry, glowing eyes.

"Listen to me carefully, you glutton," Lu Yue warned in a low, dangerous voice, trying her absolute best not to look anywhere near his lips. "Do not be a nuisance today. Just do your job, stay far away from me, and stay completely out of my sight!"

Without waiting for his answer, she turned on her heel, marched straight over to her tall black horse, and swung herself gracefully into the saddle.

Nine chuckled softly under his breath, thoroughly enjoying how flustered she was. He walked over to his own horse, climbed up into the saddle, and intentionally rode right beside her with that same smug smile plastered on his face.

The morning journey was long and bumpy, but after a few hours of riding through the dense forest, the carriage finally came to a stop.

Yueqing pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped outside, pulling her fur cloak tight around her shoulders against the biting cold wind.

They had arrived at a secret, hidden valley deep between the mountains. All around the snowy clearing, thousands of soldiers were hard at work building wooden barracks, sharpening swords, and training under the grey sky.

Standing near a large wooden table in the center of the camp was Wenzhe. He looked handsome and imposing in his dark armor, listening to a report from one of his lieutenants.

Standing right beside him was Xiao Chen. Dressed in simple, heavy riding gear suited for the rough military grounds.

Yueqing took a deep breath and began walking toward them, with Lu Yue and Nine following closely behind her.

The moment Xiao Chen caught sight of Yueqing walking over, his eyes lit up. He stopped listening to the military report and walked straight over to meet her with a warm smile.

"Yueqing, you finally arrived," Xiao Chen said, his tone light and affectionate as he stepped close to her. "It’s been a long ride from the main camp. Are you feeling alright?"

Yueqing stopped a short distance away, looking at him with a calm, steady gaze. "I’m fine, Xiao Chen. The ride wasn’t too bad."

Xiao Chen looked at her soft face and then looked around at the cold, windy valley.

"This place is too rough for you," Xiao Chen said softly, a subtle, flirtatious spark in his eyes. "The mountain wind is harsh, and the camp is far from comfortable. You shouldn’t be staying in a cold tent out here in the middle of nowhere."

He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "Why don’t you come stay in my mansion instead? It’s warm, quiet, and far more comfortable than a battlefield camp. You’ve stayed in my mansion before, so why don’t you want to stay again?"

Before Yueqing could even answer, a cold, heavy shadow fell over them.

Wenzhe stepped right between Xiao Chen and Yueqing, his broad shoulders completely blocking Xiao Chen’s view of her.

[Is he tired of living?!] Wenzhe’s furious thought echoed loudly inside his own head, his dark eyes fixed on Xiao Chen with deadly focus. [He dares to mention her staying in his mansion right in front of my face?! I should throw him straight into the icy river!]

Yueqing peeked out from behind Wenzhe’s shoulder, seeing the dark, possessive anger written all over her husband’s face. She glared at Xiao Chen and scolded him directly.

"Xiao Chen, stop talking nonsense!" Yueqing said sternly, frowning at him. "That was completely different, and you know it! I am Wenzhe’s wife Why would I ever go stay in your mansion again?! Don’t say such shameless things!"

Xiao Chen completely ignored the deadly glare piercing through him from Wenzhe. He took half a step to the side so he could look past Wenzhe’s broad shoulders, his eyes softening with genuine concern as he looked at Yueqing.

"I am not talking nonsense, Yueqing," Xiao Chen said smoothly, stepping right back into her space. "Look at your hands—they are already red from the bitter mountain frost. A few days out here, and you’ll fall sick."

"Come with me to the nearby village tomorrow afternoon. They have a wonderful market with warm silk robes, fresh sweet cakes, and hot tea. I’ll take you there myself so you can get some nice treats and escape this dreary camp for a while."

[Take my wife to the village market?!]

[He thinks he can ask her on a date right in front of me?! I will break both of his legs!]

Before Xiao Chen could react, Wenzhe grabbed Yueqing’s wrist, pulling her gently but firmly behind his massive frame. He stepped directly into Xiao Chen’s personal space, towering over the prince like an immovable mountain.

"The General’s Madame has everything she needs right here," Wenzhe growled in a low, gravelly voice that carried a dangerous warning. He leaned down, his face just inches from Xiao Chen’s, his dark gaze locking onto the prince with absolute authority.

"And as for you, Xiao Chen..." Wenzhe lingered over the name, his voice dropping into a deadly, ice-cold whisper, "Keep your hands and your mouth, completely to yourself. If you step out of line again near my wife, I don’t care about your prince title. I will personally drag you to the training grounds and beat you until you can’t walk."