Chapter 435: Yuan Heng’s "Milk Brother

The soldier leading the way was named Chi Rui. When Emperor Wu Su was still General Dingbei, Chi Rui had been a soldier under his command.

Chi Rui glanced at Ji Qingwu. The woman of unknown identity accompanying the Emperor looked a bit familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.

Chi Rui did not answer her question. He stood aside with a solemn expression, only to hear Emperor Wu Su, who was standing at the very front, speak.

"Yes."

Though it was just a single word, the few soldiers inside the storehouse could all hear the gentleness in Emperor Wu Su’s tone.

Chi Rui couldn’t help but steal another glance at Ji Qingwu, and Emperor Wu Su’s frigid gaze swept over to him.

Chi Rui hastily lowered his head, mentally running through every mistake he might have made in the past few days that could have displeased Emperor Wu Su.

Ji Qingwu stared at the wild wolf’s eerily glowing green eyes and frowned in displeasure.

The wolf, which had kept its head lowered, suddenly snapped it up and stared back at her.

The human and the wolf locked eyes, neither backing down.

Zhao Mingyan’s gaze fell on Ji Qingwu’s face. Her expression held a rare ferocity.

Her elegant nose was scrunched up, and the gleam in her eyes was like the surface of a frozen lake, showing no sign of retreat.

’Whether it’s a wolf or any other beast, they all bully the weak and fear the strong.’

’If you back down when your eyes meet, it will see you as an easy target and hold you in even less regard.’

Ji Qingwu’s eyes began to sting from staring at the wolf for so long, but she still refused to relax and blink.

Direct eye contact is a sign of provocation among beasts. The Wolf King felt its status was being challenged, so it bared its fangs and let out a low growl.

A hint of surprise appeared in Zhao Mingyan’s eyes as well.

’He knew better than anyone that Ji Qingwu was no weak maiden. On the contrary, belying her delicate appearance, she had a fire within her that could set a prairie ablaze—resilient and unyielding, undying and inextinguishable.’

Before the ferocious Wolf King, her tenacity came to the forefront, and she even seemed to gain a mental edge over it.

Ji Qingwu mimicked the wolf, lifting her pink lips to bare her pearly-white teeth and issuing a low, threatening warning of her own.

Seeing this, Zhao Mingyan finally couldn’t hold back and let out a laugh.

"You want to take a swipe at it too?"

Chi Rui and the other soldiers had never seen Emperor Wu Su smile. They all gasped in unison, instantly understanding this woman’s status in the military camp.

’No matter who she was, they could confirm one thing: this woman was absolutely cherished by Emperor Wu Su.’

When Ji Qingwu heard Zhao Mingyan’s voice, she turned to look at him. The ice in her eyes instantly melted, turning into warm spring waters that flowed in his direction.

Ji Qingwu had indeed thought about "taking revenge," but it was simply impossible.

"Its fur is so thick," she said with regret. "How could my scratches ever get through?"

Seeing that she had truly considered it, the smile lines at the corners of Zhao Mingyan’s lips deepened.

"It’s just an animal. It only attacked and injured people because it was being controlled."

Ji Qingwu understood the logic, but she still shook her head and said seriously, "But it and I are mortal enemies."

Zhao Mingyan’s smile widened. "I am deeply gratified that Ah Wu holds me in such high regard," he remarked admiringly.

Ji Qingwu’s eyelashes fluttered a few times. With a twinkle in her eye, she leaned close to his ear.

Zhao Mingyan first felt a soft breath against the shell of his ear, then heard her speak in a slow, deliberate tone.

"Only I am allowed to leave marks on Your Majesty’s body."

’At first, her words were startling. He was surprised that Ji Qingwu had made such "progress," daring to whisper sweet nothings to him in front of everyone, even if it was at a volume only they could hear.’

’On second thought, Zhao Mingyan chuckled to himself. How was her behavior any different from a small animal marking its territory?’

’So, he had already been claimed as Ji Qingwu’s territory. Perhaps it had happened even earlier, back when she faced danger for him, when she avenged him...’

After speaking, Ji Qingwu pulled away, feigning nonchalance. But her shyness was still evident in her actions; she even scratched her slightly reddened ear in a poorly concealed attempt to hide her embarrassment.

The wild wolf in the cage suddenly pricked up its ears, alert.

Before long, the clear sound of a wolf’s howl came from outside.

The howls grew more urgent, but it was clear that only one wolf was approaching. The massive wild wolf in the cage also began to howl, as if conversing with the one outside.

Ji Qingwu’s eyes shifted. ’This means the two wolves know each other, and they’re close. The one outside must be looking for this one.’

A soldier hurried in and reported respectfully, "Your Majesty, a wolf has appeared by the encampment fence. Based on its fur, I believe it’s the same Silver Wolf that once nursed the little prince."

Surprise flashed in Ji Qingwu’s eyes. ’So what Emperor Wu Su said was actually true.’

When Yuan Heng was an infant, they couldn’t find a wet nurse near the military camp. The little one’s cries attracted a she-wolf, which Zhao Mingyan captured and used to feed the baby wolf’s milk for a few days.

’She really wanted to see such an intelligent animal for herself.’

Ji Qingwu eagerly grabbed Zhao Mingyan’s arm. "Your Majesty, I want to see that she-wolf."

"Let it in," Zhao Mingyan ordered.

The soldier took his leave, and a small gate by the fence was opened.

The she-wolf surveyed the area before running inside; it was extremely familiar with the military camp.

Only on its first visit was it captured. Every time after that, it would sneak in and leave small prey outside the tent, truly treating the human infant as one of its own cubs.

The she-wolf followed the scent, running right up to the storehouse entrance.

Ji Qingwu’s eyes lit up as she looked at the silver-gray she-wolf that appeared before them.

The she-wolf had a small build, and much of the fur around its muzzle had already turned white. In terms of age, it should be middle-aged for the Wolf Clan.

Its nostrils twitched slightly as if sniffing something. It then let out a low whimper, lowered its head, and looked in Ji Qingwu’s direction.

The Wolf King in the iron cage also stood up, its massive body nearly filling the entire cage.

"No wonder," Zhao Mingyan said.

Ji Qingwu asked eagerly, "What have you figured out, Your Majesty?"

Zhao Mingyan said, "This wild wolf we captured on the battlefield must be the she-wolf’s cub."

To think that the she-wolf’s cub had grown so large and even become a Wolf King. In a way, that made it and Yuan Heng "milk-brothers."

But a four or five-year-old wolf was in its prime, while Yuan Heng was still all short arms and stubby legs.

Ji Qingwu sighed softly. "But this wolf is under the control of the Xijin people. I wonder if it can still recognize its own mother."

The she-wolf’s gray-green eyes looked toward Emperor Wu Su, its tail drooping. It didn’t dare make a rash move, seeming to fear him greatly.

Zhao Mingyan took a step to the side.

The she-wolf’s eyes shifted. Understanding this as permission to enter, it swiftly darted into the room and approached the iron cage.

Ji Qingwu watched the reunion of the two wolves without blinking, her heart pounding with a bit of nervousness.

The Wolf King in the cage clearly did not recognize the she-wolf before it as its mother.

A low warning rumbled in its throat as it stared intently at the she-wolf’s neck, looking as if it might burst from the cage and lunge at any moment...