Fan Changyu had not slept well for two days and a night. After traveling all day and fighting on the battlefield until utterly exhausted, her slumber was more akin to a semi-conscious collapse than actual rest.
When she woke again, it was already the afternoon of the next day. Beyond the bleeding gashes, the soreness in her muscles had also peaked, making even the slightest movement excruciating. Changyu nearly couldn’t get out of bed on her own.
The medic, Ah Hui, came to change her bandages. Changyu mentioned that her back ached strangely.
Ah Hui examined the bruises and dark purplish marks covering her body, her heart aching as she said, "Commander, your injuries aren’t just from blades and axes—your entire back is bruised. Let me apply some medicine for swelling and trauma to help ease the pain."
Fan Changyu thanked her.
During the battle, she had been forced off her horse by the Martial Assassins, tumbling several times across the ground while dodging spears and halberds aimed at her. The bruises and impact wounds hadn’t been obvious yesterday, but now that the swelling had set in, the sight was truly alarming.
To make it easier for Ah Hui to treat her, Changyu removed her outer robe and sat on a round stool, leaning forward over the table.
The knife wound on her abdomen wasn’t deep—it hadn’t reached her internal organs—but the gash was long, stretching almost to her waist. Fortunately, the arm she had injured was on the same side. When lying flat became unbearable due to the bruises on her back, she could sleep on her uninjured side instead.
Ah Hui gently swept Changyu’s dark hair forward, then scooped out some medicinal oil with her fingers and began massaging the bruised areas on her back. As she worked, her eyes reddened.
Changyu’s warm, fair complexion had lost some of its usual color due to her injuries, making the bruises and wounds stand out even more starkly.
When a tear fell onto Changyu’s back, she turned in surprise, looking at the young girl whose eyes were as red as a rabbit’s. "What’s wrong?" she asked.
Ah Hui wiped her eyes clumsily with her sleeve, sniffling. "Commander, it must hurt terribly, doesn’t it?"
Realizing the girl was distressed on her behalf, Changyu paused for a moment before smiling faintly. "It’s not that bad, really."
She leaned back over the table, the curve of her lips gradually fading into something lonely.
How could it not hurt?
Back when she trained in martial arts with her father, she would sometimes get hurt. Too proud to admit it, she would stubbornly insist she was fine—until her mother pulled her aside to tend to her wounds. Only then would she grimace and cry out in pain while her mother gently scolded her. It all felt like it had happened just yesterday.
But now, she no longer had her parents. There was no one left in this world whom she could freely cry out to when she was hurt.
Ah Hui silently finished applying the oil to the bruises on her back, then suddenly made a small sound of surprise. "Commander, you’re hurt here too."
She rubbed a spot near the base of Changyu’s neck with her oil-slicked fingers. "It’s red."
Changyu didn’t pay it much mind. "Probably scraped by a rock when I fell off my horse."
Ah Hui studied the two small, fingernail-sized red marks more closely. Unlike the other bruises on Changyu’s body—dark blue or purple—these were still fresh.
Ah Hui had just turned fifteen this year. Since her father was an Army Doctor, she had grown up learning medicine by osmosis. Because Changyu was a woman, she had been specifically assigned to tend to her wounds.
Once, she had seen similar red marks on the neck of a courtesan who had come for treatment. When the woman noticed Ah Hui staring, she had covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief and giggled knowingly.Her mother saw it and scolded her with a cold face, later telling her that such women were not proper and that she should avoid too much contact with them.
Ahui asked her mother why the woman had red marks on her neck—was she sick? Her mother only scolded her more harshly, saying a young lady ought to know shame.
To this day, Ahui still didn’t know what those marks were, but privately, she guessed they couldn’t be anything good.
Yet now, the commandant had similar red marks on the back of her neck…
Ahui racked her brains but couldn’t figure it out, only concluding that the marks on the commandant must have been from the battlefield—different from those on the courtesan—
Fan Changyu knew nothing of this. At noon, Ahui brought her a bowl of lean meat porridge.
The Army Doctor had said that since she hadn’t eaten for a long time, her body was too weak for rich nourishment. She must avoid overeating and instead have small, frequent meals.
At first, Fan Changyu hadn’t felt particularly hungry, but after finishing the bowl of porridge, she still didn’t feel full at all. Holding the empty bowl, she looked at Ahui with puppy-dog eyes. Ahui couldn’t bear that pleading gaze, her eyebrows twisting in conflict. “Father said the commandant can only have one bowl of porridge for lunch…”
Fan Changyu didn’t want to trouble the young girl further. After handing back the empty bowl, she asked about Xie Wu: “How is my brother doing?”
Ahui replied, “He hasn’t woken yet, but this morning when I fed him medicine, he swallowed instinctively. Father said that as long as he can eat, his life is out of danger.”
This was probably the best news Fan Changyu had heard in the past two days. She steadied herself against the bedpost and stood up. “I’ll go see him.”
Ahui hurried over to support her. “Commandant, you’re still badly injured yourself! Father said you need to rest in bed for a few more days.”
Fan Changyu only said, “I’m tough. It’s fine.”
Fan Changyu was tall for a woman, standing at least half a head taller than Ahui.
When helping her up, Ahui only had to tilt her head slightly to see the elegant line of her jaw. The afternoon sunlight fell on her pale, wounded profile, making even the fine down on her face clearly visible.
Ahui’s cheeks flushed as she blurted out, “Commandant isn’t tough at all! Commandant is the most beautiful woman Ahui has ever seen.”
She had once seen a type of orchid in the city lord’s garden—its leaves sharp as swords, rigid and unyielding, like a towering iron tree. Yet the flowers it bore were pure white as snow, blooming in clusters at the very center of those stacked sword-like leaves, breathtakingly beautiful.
The servants in the manor had tried to pick them, but the flowers were shielded by the sharp leaves, making it nearly impossible.
When she first saw Fan Changyu, covered in wounds—so badly hurt that Ahui trembled while bandaging her—yet still comforting her in return, Ahui had thought of those sword-leafed orchids.
She mused that only an Unrivaled Hero from the storybooks could ever be worthy of a woman like the commandant—
Xie Wu remained unconscious. After visiting him, Fan Changyu personally asked the Army Doctor about his condition. The doctor said that given the severity of his injuries, it was a miracle he had survived at all. His left arm had taken a deep slash—though the limb was still attached, the bones inside were shattered. Even if he recovered, that arm would never be functional again.
Looking at the young man lying on the sickbed, Fan Changyu felt a pang of sorrow, remembering how he had risked his life to lead others in rescuing her that day.
But despite suffering multiple wounds, he had still clung to life—that alone was a blessing.
Fan Changyu’s eyes reddened slightly as she murmured, “As long as he’s alive, that’s enough.”She was worried that the Army Doctor might be short-handed and Xie Wu wouldn't receive proper care, so she wanted to assign two soldiers to assist. However, Ahui mentioned that someone had already come to watch over Xie Wu last night. The person looked unfamiliar, so she asked a few questions and was told they were Xie Wu's sworn brother from the army.
Fan Changyu immediately thought of Xie Zheng.
Since he had come to Lucheng, his personal guards must have followed.
The one who came to watch over Xie Wu last night was likely one of his former comrades.
Only after confirming Xie Wu's safety did Fan Changyu have the peace of mind to reflect on yesterday's events.
She hadn't expected to see Xie Zheng in Lucheng at all.
After the Li family and Wei Yan began vying for control of the military forces in Chongzhou and Jizhou, he had left for Kangcheng under the pretext of hunting down remnants of the rebels and never returned.
The journey from Kangcheng to Lucheng was even longer than coming from Chongzhou. For him to arrive in such a short time, his troops must have already been on the move.
Had he received advance notice, or was it mere coincidence that his army happened to be near Lucheng?
Fan Changyu was full of questions. And... what did that cold smirk and aggressive retort mean when she addressed him as "Marquis"?
The way he had looked at her before leaving made her feel even more unsettled.
She forcibly stopped herself from dwelling on Xie Zheng.
With Xie Wu out of danger, the priority now was rescuing Yu Qianqian.
The Army Doctor and Ahui kept a close watch on Fan Changyu. She excused herself to pay respects to He Jingyuan, and only then did the Army Doctor reluctantly allow her to leave the courtyard where the wounded officers were recuperating. Concerned about her injuries, he even sent Ahui to accompany her.
The mourning hall was draped in white. The large black character "奠" (condolence) on the dark coffin weighed heavily on the heart.
Suppressing the pain in her abdomen, Fan Changyu knelt and kowtowed three times before offering incense to He Jingyuan.
Madam He personally helped her up, her face etched with grief but still kind. "You must be Changyu. My husband often spoke of you."
She had only received the news this morning and rushed from Jizhou with her children, still covered in dust from the journey. Dressed in mourning attire with white fabric and black embroidery, her exhaustion was evident, and strands of silver peeked from her temples. Yet Fan Changyu felt an immediate kinship with her.
In a hoarse voice, she said, "Auntie."
Madam He responded with a sorrowful smile, then comforted her, "Good child, don't cry. Lucheng has been defended. My husband would rest in peace knowing this."
Fan Changyu nodded, fighting back the sting in her eyes.
With a sigh, Madam He added, "I heard you're also in the army. If you see Wen Chang, please tell him that neither my husband nor I blame him. He shouldn't torment himself."
Upon further inquiry, Fan Changyu learned that Zheng Wenchang had only regained consciousness this morning due to the heavy blow she had dealt him. He had come to kneel before He Jingyuan's coffin, refusing food or drink, and remained silent until Madam He arrived with her children. Overcome with shame, he had then left, unable to face her.
Fan Changyu agreed without hesitation.
Though she hadn't worked with Zheng Wenchang for long, she knew how deeply he revered He Jingyuan. The loss must have devastated him.
She planned to look for him in the military camp later, but as she left the mourning hall, she spotted him in a secluded corner by the wall, hidden under climbing vines.
His gaze was dark and fixed on her, as if he had been waiting for her.Fan Changyu was about to approach when A Hui grabbed her arm, stammering, "C-Commander, that man looks really fierce. Did he have a grudge against you? You're still injured..."
Fan Changyu said, "That's General Zheng. Don't be afraid."
Only then did A Hui relax.
Supported by A Hui, Fan Changyu walked closer and called out, "General Zheng."
Zheng Wenchang was leaning against the wall, most of his face hidden in shadow. The faint stubble on his jaw gave him an overall disheveled appearance.
"The Commander played the hero—did you get what you wanted?" He lifted his head, looking at Fan Changyu with a mocking gaze.
Hearing him slander Fan Changyu, A Hui forgot her fear and snapped, "How dare you speak like that? What do you mean by 'playing the hero'? Do you even know the Commander was carried back from the battlefield with half her life gone? If not for her, Lu City wouldn't have held until the Marquis arrived with reinforcements!"
As Zheng Wenchang listened to these reproaches, the mockery and grief in his eyes only deepened. He stared at Fan Changyu and said, "I'd rather have been the one who died outside the city! Instead, I was knocked unconscious, only to wake up and be told the battle was already over—no chance left to avenge my mentor! What a joke!"
Fan Changyu had knocked him out precisely because she feared his grief and impulsiveness would drive him to charge out and throw his life away.
She said coldly, "If Lord He's prized disciple died senselessly on the battlefield out of sheer recklessness, that would be the real joke!"
Her plan had been to buy time until reinforcements arrived. If Zheng Wenchang had charged out, he would have recklessly plunged into enemy lines seeking revenge against Sui Yuanhuai.
Alone, no matter how skilled he was, how could he stand against twenty thousand soldiers? A single volley of arrows would have turned him into a pincushion.
Zheng Wenchang clenched his jaw at Fan Changyu's words, his gaze fixed on her. Suddenly, he took a step forward. A Hui, terrified he might attack Fan Changyu, cried out, "What are you doing?!"
Zheng Wenchang slammed a fist into the wall beside Fan Changyu and coldly spat out, "Once your injuries heal, we'll settle this."
With that, he strode off without a backward glance.
But A Hui's shout, combined with the crowd gathered to mourn He Jingyuan, had drawn many eyes their way.
Whispers spread: "Wasn't that General Zheng and Commander Fan? What happened?"
Someone stammered softly, "I-It looked like General Zheng had Commander Fan cornered against the wall..."
From a distance, the angle made Zheng Wenchang's punch seem more like a forceful pinning.
One person mused, "Could General Zheng have feelings for Commander Fan?"
This remark sent ripples through the crowd. Both were unmarried, worked closely together, and had faced life-and-death situations on the battlefield. Upon reflection, it didn't seem all that surprising.
Fan Changyu left without hearing the gossip, nor did she dwell on Zheng Wenchang's outburst.
It wasn't until she went to Tang Peiyi for a token to visit the imprisoned Yu Qianqian and her child that she learned just how absurd the rumors had become.The incident began after she paid her respects to He Jingyuan. From the military officers nearby, she learned the location where the families of the rebels were being held. Though she couldn’t rescue Yu Qianqian and her child at the moment, she thought she could at least bring them some food and necessities and instruct the jailers to ensure they weren’t mistreated in prison.
When she arrived at the prison gate, the guards informed her that she needed a token from either Xie Zheng or Tang Peiyi to enter.
Naturally, Fan Changyu wouldn’t ask Xie Zheng for such a favor.
After much effort, she managed to obtain a token from Tang Peiyi by fabricating an excuse. Before she left, however, Tang Peiyi chuckled and said, “I heard that Commander Fan and General Zheng are soon to be wed?”
Fan Changyu was baffled. “General, what do you mean by that?”
Tang Peiyi assumed she was just being coy, given her feminine modesty, and smiled. “No need to hide it from me, Commander Fan. The news about you and General Zheng has spread throughout the camp. No wonder Lord He transferred General Zheng to Chongzhou to assist you before his passing.”
Fan Changyu grew even more confused. “Are you referring to General Zheng’s declaration that he’d challenge me to a duel once my injuries healed? What does that have to do with Lord He transferring him here?”
Tang Peiyi widened his eyes. “At this point, are you still playing dumb with me?”
Fan Changyu wasn’t pretending—she genuinely had no idea what he was talking about.
Seeing her truly clueless expression, Tang Peiyi also became puzzled. “I heard that you and General Zheng have developed feelings for each other. Yesterday, when he wanted to leave the city to avenge Lord He, you feared for his safety and knocked him out, taking his place instead.”
Fan Changyu felt as if she’d been struck by lightning.
She had finally witnessed how rumors could distort reality beyond recognition.
She recounted the actual events to Tang Peiyi, exasperated. “I was afraid General Zheng would throw his life away for nothing. Deputy General He was also present—you can ask him if you don’t believe me.”
Tang Peiyi hadn’t expected such a misunderstanding. He frowned. “Then why did General Zheng seek you out today?”
The rumor he’d heard was that Zheng Wenchang, upon learning she had taken his place and suffered severe injuries, was both heartbroken and furious. He had allegedly cornered her in public to “demand an explanation.”
Fan Changyu’s eyelid twitched. “He resented me for knocking him out that day and nearly came to blows with me. Only because I was injured did he postpone the fight.”
Tang Peiyi slammed the table in anger. “Outrageous! I’ll reprimand him later!”
Fan Changyu felt this was akin to tattling. If Tang Peiyi really scolded Zheng Wenchang, future encounters would only become more awkward. She quickly said, “Thank you for your concern, General, but it’s better for me and General Zheng to settle this privately. After all… Lord He’s death is truly an insurmountable grief for him.”
He Jingyuan had also been a great benefactor to Tang Peiyi. Unable to lead reinforcements in time, Tang Peiyi carried his own guilt and understood Zheng Wenchang’s feelings. He sighed. “Very well. You two may resolve this privately.”
After leaving Tang Peiyi’s presence, Fan Changyu sighed in frustration.
A’Xiang hung her head in remorse. “It’s all my fault for shouting. I caused the rumors about you, Commander.”
Fan Changyu ruffled A’Xiang’s hair. “It’s not your fault.”
A’Xiang had only yelled out of fear that Zheng Wenchang might attack her. Who could have imagined such a trivial matter would be twisted into such salacious gossip by busybodies?Upon reaching the prison, Fan Changyu presented her token to the guards. They informed her that only she could enter, so she instructed Ahui to wait outside while she carried bundles of supplies to visit Yu Qianqian.
The jailer led her to the innermost cell and said respectfully, "This is the place. But there are rules from above, and it's difficult for me to bend them. The Commandant may only stay for the duration of one incense stick."
Fan Changyu saw a woman in prison garb huddled in the darkest corner, shielding a child. Though she couldn't make out the woman's face clearly, her disheveled hair suggested she had suffered greatly.
Her heart ached, but she forced herself to remain composed and said to the jailer, "Understood. You may leave now."
Once the jailer had withdrawn, she called out to the woman inside, "Qianqian, I've come to see you. I haven't found a way to get you out yet, but I brought some things for you and Bao'er. Here’s the pine nut candy Bao'er likes..."
At the sound of her voice, the woman flinched and clutched the child tighter, burying her face in her knees without responding.
Puzzled, Fan Changyu called again, "Qianqian?"
Still, the woman gave no reply. However, the child in her arms, hearing mention of pine nut candy, peeked up timidly at Fan Changyu.
The moment Fan Changyu saw the child's face, her expression shifted.
This wasn't Yu Bao'er!
Realizing the child had looked up, the woman panicked and quickly pressed the little one's head back against her chest, as if desperate to hide the fact that they were imposters.
But in that brief moment when she lifted her head, Fan Changyu had already glimpsed the stranger’s face beneath the tangled hair.
For a moment, she didn’t know whether to feel relief or renewed tension.
If the ones brought back weren’t Yu Qianqian and her child, then the one who had supposedly been executed couldn’t have been Sui Yuanhuai either!
She studied the woman—curled up, head bowed, trembling in the corner—for a long moment before silently passing all the food and bedding she had brought through the bars. Then, without a word, she turned and left the prison.
Yesterday, after Xie Zheng had been summoned away by his personal guard, he must have seen this mother and child. Did he not realize they were imposters, or had he known and simply allowed them to pass as Yu Qianqian and her son?
If it was the former, then she alone knew that remnants of the rebels still existed.
If it was the latter, what was Xie Zheng’s purpose in declaring that all the rebels had been eliminated?
Lost in thought, Fan Changyu walked out of the prison with Ahui supporting her.
Suddenly, Ahui tightened her grip on Fan Changyu’s uninjured arm and stammered, "C-Commandant."
"Hm?" Fan Changyu snapped out of her reverie and turned to Ahui.
Ahui, looking like a strangled chick, gestured with her eyes toward the path ahead.
Fan Changyu already had a sinking feeling. Sure enough, when she looked up, she saw a group approaching in the distance.
At their head was a man in a deep crimson brocade robe embroidered with swirling clouds, ocean waves, and mountain motifs. His face was as flawless as jade, his eyes cold as distant stars.
It was none other than Xie Zheng.
His hair was pulled back entirely, sharpening the severe lines of his features and erasing the last traces of youthful softness, leaving only an austere, striking handsomeness.
A few civil officials followed behind him, likely on their way to interrogate prisoners.
Fan Changyu cursed inwardly at the unfortunate timing.
Even now, she still didn’t know what attitude to adopt when facing him—or how she should even address him.After a brief moment of consideration, she still clasped her fists in the military salute and said, "Greetings, Marquis."
Unexpectedly, the other party didn't even glance in her direction. His handsome face seemed covered in a layer of frost as he walked past her indifferently, heading straight for the prison.
Fan Changyu was slightly taken aback.
A'xiao called out softly, "Commander, what's wrong?"
Changyu snapped out of her daze, suppressing the faint bitterness in her heart, and calmly replied, "It's nothing. Let's go."
This was how it should be when they met again.
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