The stationmaster cautiously observed the expressions of Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu. "Your Highness, Imperial Concubine... conditions at the border fortress truly cannot compare to those within the pass. We beg your forgiveness for any inadequacies in our hospitality."
"You're too courteous, Lord Zhou."
"Your Highness is too kind, too kind... Please rest first, Your Highness and Imperial Concubine. This humble official will go prepare the evening meal now."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Only when the stationmaster's footsteps faded from hearing did Chu Chu ask Xiao Jinyu, "Your Highness, how far is it from here to the military camp?"
Xiao Jinyu replied absently, "No more than half an hour's journey at most."
"Then... when shall we go to the military camp?"
Xiao Jinyu finally caught her meaning and drew Chu Chu close to his side, looking into her eyes that could never conceal anything. "You really want to go to the military camp?"
Chu Chu pressed her lips together and nodded.
Xiao Jinyu chuckled softly. "The military camp isn't fun at all... Life there is much harder than here at Liangzhou Station."
"I'm not going for fun..." Chu Chu pouted slightly. "I want to perform a corpse examination."
"Hmm?"
"I want to conduct a corpse examination - in Little Chili... no, in Constable Leng's cases!" she said, looking at Xiao Jinyu with a pleading expression. "May I?"
"Of course you may..." Xiao Jinyu gently stroked her back. "But we can't go yet. We need to wait a while longer."
Chu Chu tenderly touched the faint dark circles under Xiao Jinyu's eyes. He had only managed to get a full night's proper sleep the previous night after many days. "I know you must be exhausted. You need proper rest."
"Not too tired... It's just that we're not yet clear about the situation in the military camp. Going recklessly could easily spoil things... Once I understand better, we'll go immediately."
"Alright!"
The room was warm, and the cozy atmosphere amplified Xiao Jinyu's weariness. No matter how hard he tried to stay alert, he unknowingly fell asleep leaning against the chair back.
"Your Highness," Chu Chu gently shook his arm to wake him. "Sleep in bed, or you might catch cold."
"Mmm... in a moment... after dinner..."
"Are you hungry?"
Xiao Jinyu drowsily rested his head against Chu Chu's chest. "I want to eat with you..."
Seeing he was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, Chu Chu cupped his face and kissed his eyelids. "You sleep first. I'll wait for you. We'll eat together when you wake up."
Xiao Jinyu could no longer fight the drowsiness and nodded faintly. "I'll just sleep sitting for a while..."
"No, sleeping sitting up will make your back hurt again... Better sleep in bed. I'll sleep with you."
"Alright..."
The quilt was soft and fluffy, and Chu Chu's body warmed him like a small furnace, making him extremely comfortable. When Xiao Jinyu woke from his sleep, the sky was already bright. Chu Chu was still nestled in his embrace. Seeing Xiao Jinyu awake, Chu Chu smiled happily and kissed his cheek. "You're awake?"
"What time is it..."
"It's almost noon."
Xiao Jinyu suddenly remembered. "Did you eat dinner?"
"No, I promised you I'd wait until you woke up to eat together."
"I'm sorry..." Xiao Jinyu touched her empty stomach. "You must be starving. Why didn't you wake me?"
"When you don't sleep well, you lose your appetite. You haven't eaten properly for several days. I wanted you to sleep well so you could eat more when you woke up."
"I'll definitely eat more... Go ask the stationmaster to prepare a meal."
"Alright!"
******Liangzhou was a region that produced meat rather than vegetables, and in such a remote area near the border, fruits and vegetables were even scarcer. The stationmaster served almost entirely meat dishes—roasted, stewed, braised, and pan-fried. No matter how hard Xiao Jin Yu tried, he couldn’t eat much, but Chu Chu ate heartily, filling her previously flattened belly until it was round and plump. She licked her lips contentedly.
Xiao Jin Yu didn’t dare ask if she was full, afraid she might want to eat more. He never knew how to refuse her requests, and he didn’t want to accidentally make her overeat and fall ill…
When the stationmaster came to clear the plates, he was both astonished and delighted to see several plates wiped clean, his face full of flattered surprise. "Wang Ye, Imperial Concubine, if this isn’t enough, there’s still half a roasted lamb in the kitchen!"
Xiao Jin Yu quickly replied, "It’s enough, it’s enough… Could I trouble Lord Zhou to brew a pot of tea?"
"Of course, of course… This humble official will go right away!"
By the time the stationmaster returned, Chu Chu had already been persuaded by Xiao Jin Yu to take a stroll outside to aid her digestion. After the stationmaster poured tea for Xiao Jin Yu, Xiao Jin Yu invited him to sit.
The stationmaster waved his hands in a fluster, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare… How could this humble official sit with Wang Ye!"
"I have some questions about the military situation and would like to seek your advice, Lord Zhou."
"Wang Ye, you flatter me… Please ask, and this humble official will tell you everything I know."
"Very well… Lord Zhou, do you remember exactly when the Turkic army invaded?"
The stationmaster answered without hesitation, "It was last May—it’s been about half a year now."
"Has it always been General Leng leading the troops?"
"Exactly! Those Turkic people, only General Leng can keep them in check!" After saying this, the stationmaster recalled another person and sighed, "Actually, that’s not entirely true… Previously, the Prince of Wu Commandery also dealt with them once, and he struck even harder than General Leng. He made the Turkic people genuinely behave for a while. It’s just a pity that later he was transferred to the southern border, and then that incident happened…"
"You’ve met the Prince of Wu Commandery?"
"It was several years ago. Back then, the Prince of Wu Commandery hadn’t yet been appointed as a general… Just like you, when he came to this humble official’s place, he presented a gold token. Otherwise, with my limited knowledge, how could I have recognized the token of a royal clansman?"
Xiao Jin Yu frowned slightly, lost in thought.
The stationmaster added, "Speaking of which… Our military camp hasn’t changed generals, but the Turkic side has."
"Oh?"
"The earlier border incursions were led by a Turkic general, but later, for some reason, the Turkic Third Prince took command of the troops."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded gently, "That’s not surprising… The Turkic Khan does not base succession on birth order but on military achievements. It’s normal for a prince to replace his subordinate in leading troops to accumulate merits."
OpenNovel