Madam Bai choked back the words that had welled up in her throat and couldn't utter a single one.
She let out a soft sigh. "I understand..."
When she got married, the elders of the Bai family had told her that marrying a military general, especially a capable one, meant living in constant fear.
She was afraid that he might be beheaded after a defeat, and also worried that he might return badly injured even after a victory.
Now, after a lifetime of military service, her husband had finally stopped to enjoy a peaceful life of growing flowers and teasing birds. But due to the affairs in the court, he had to go to the battlefield again. And her child was also caught up in the whirlpool in the capital, unable to extricate himself and could only be swept forward by the storm.
Behind every victory, there were always countless unseen corpses.
She rubbed her temples and then rallied her spirits. "Alright, you're right. Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. With you by his side, I feel more at ease."
Seeing that she had recovered, Xie Yan also felt relieved.
Since he had gotten to know Chen Tingfeng, the Marquis Mansion had become his second home. Chen Xuan and Madam Bai were kind people and had treated him well, almost like a half - son.
Despite his calculating nature, he really didn't want to see the once happy and harmonious Marquis Mansion fall apart.
He changed the topic and soon livened up the atmosphere with a few words.
After they sat and chatted for a while, when it was almost time, the Eldest Princess and Xie Yan got up to say goodbye.
Chen Tingfeng saw them off. When he came back in, he saw Fu Zhen looking at him intently.
That kind of look seemed to have spanned two lifetimes. It had always been there, watching him in places he had never noticed.
His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but step forward and pull her into his arms.
"Don't be afraid," he gently stroked Fu Zhen's hair. His lips were close to her temple, as if he was about to give a gentle kiss. "I'll be fine. I promise you."
Fu Zhen buried her head in Chen Tingfeng's arms and mumbled, "I know."
In the previous life, even though the situation was so difficult, he had managed to fight his way out.
She had never doubted his abilities.
It was just...
"I had a dream before. I saw you after Xie Yan came to power," she whispered in his arms. She looked up at his hair and gently stroked it with her hand. "At that time, you had both fame and fortune, second only to the emperor."
"But you already had gray hair early."
Chen Tingfeng felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his heart, making his insides ache. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He just tightened his arms around her.
He tried to sound relaxed. "It seems I have to take good care of myself this lifetime, or I won't be worthy of you."
"You've always been worthy." Chen Tingfeng was suddenly stunned.
Fu Zhen looked into his eyes seriously. "Although you're cold - tempered and not very likable, full of tricks in your mind and often able to make people angry with just a few words, but—"
She suddenly gave a soft laugh, held his face and gently kissed his lips. "But, I like you."
"I did in the past, I do now," she said softly but firmly, "and I will in the future."
Chen Tingfeng stood there stunned for three seconds. It was as if a thunderbolt had struck him on the head, leaving him completely dazed.
After a moment, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. In the end, he was almost uncontrollably excited. He directly picked her up. "You like me?"
"You like me!"
He suddenly tossed her up in the air, as if he had returned to his youthful and reckless days. The smile on his face had never been so brilliant.
He caught her steadily and gave her a deep kiss on her smiling lips. "I love you."
"Very, very much," he could hardly say anything sweet, but just stared at her with his star - like eyes. "I want to hold you like this for a lifetime, even when we're old, and I won't let go even when I'm dead."
To live and die together.
This was his "curse" for her, and also the deepest love he had for her.
He had always been such a person. Once he made up his mind, he would never let go even if it meant death.
He hugged her tightly. His heart was pounding fast, but suddenly he heard another heartbeat.
Thump, thump.
Gradually in sync.
The smile on his face grew wider and wider. In the end, he couldn't control his laughter. He hugged Fu Zhen and spun around in the courtyard. This excitement was even greater than when he had won two top - level imperial examinations before.
Fu Zhen let him have his way. Her face was full of indulgence for him.
Finally, she felt dizzy from being spun around. She patted him to signal him to put her down.
Chen Tingfeng was like a wolf that had bitten onto a bone and just wouldn't let go. He directly sat down with her on his lap and leaned his head on her neck, looking very clingy.
Fu Zhen reached out and twirled his hair. Her thoughts drifted back to the previous life. "You weren't happy then. Although you still looked cold, and I didn't really know you well at that time, I just felt that you weren't happy."
"Maybe it was because of my death, or maybe it was for some other reason," Chen Tingfeng suddenly lifted his head. Fu Zhen gently stroked his face. "I don't want you to become like that again."
"In this life, you have to accompany me safely until we're old. Our whole family will live a harmonious and happy life for a lifetime."
Chen Tingfeng's voice almost choked. A sour feeling welled up in his throat, making it difficult for him to even open his mouth.
His emotions had gone through such a roller - coaster ride. His feelings were too complicated to put into words. He could only hug her tightly, as if he was tightly holding the string of his kite, not allowing himself to lose his roots and sink into the mire of wealth and honor.
"Okay," he said. "Not a single one of our family can be missing."
A gentleman's promise is as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold.
The Xiongnu were strong and their horses were sturdy. Losing a city to Chen Xuan almost made them furious with rage.
Helian Yu was like a mad dog, staring fixedly at the flags on the distant city wall.
Just a few days ago, their flags had been flying on this very city wall.
His trusted subordinate stepped forward. "Your Highness, there's a letter from the Chanyu."
Helian Yu withdrew his gaze. With a fierce aura all over him, he strode towards the tent in the camp.
They had lost the city but were reluctant to go back. So they had to camp outside the city. Fortunately, they were a nomadic people and were used to this kind of life.
He yanked open the tent curtain and sat down on the chair in a domineering manner. His subordinate handed him the letter.
He quickly opened it. After reading it, he let out three loud laughs, full of exhilaration.
"Give the order. Get the troops ready today and tomorrow. We'll attack the city in three days!"
On the other side, Chen Xuan was distributing porridge in the city.
Looking at the emaciated civilians and the corpses lying everywhere on the street, his face was set in a hard line and his eyes were blood - red.
These were all their people, the people of the Central Plains!
The Xiongnu's reputation for cruelty was not unfounded. When they occupied a city, they only cared about having fun. They would abduct women and humiliate them at will, and kill men for pleasure.
When Chen Xuan recaptured the city, it was filled with corpses everywhere.
The fresh blood had stained the ground red, and it couldn't be washed clean even in three days and three nights.
He punched the wall, his heart filled with hatred.
These damned beasts!
Under the leadership of the deputy general, the soldiers were methodically dealing with the corpses. The weather was hot, and some of the corpses had already started to rot and stink.
Since there were no conditions for burial and to prevent the spread of plague, they could only gather the corpses together and burn them.
The thick smoke billowed, carrying the blood and tears of the civilians, spreading throughout the entire city.
Even the most lazy soldiers couldn't help but have red eyes at this moment.