After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 67

Pei Zhen’s raised hand stiffened slightly, and a trace of something unusual flashed across his expression, an almost imperceptible embarrassment and awkwardness.

He tried unnaturally to turn his head away, but his gaze inadvertently fell again on the person before him, the cool and delicate face, the fair ear revealed among dark hair, and the slender section of neck exposed to the cold wind as the other slightly tilted their head to look at him.

The tattered bright red cloak was tightly wrapped around the other person. The coarse red fabric was gathered at the collar, fitting snugly against the fair, slender skin at the side of the neck, and was finally held fast by his own grip.

The fingers with which Pei Zhen grasped the cloak trembled slightly without his noticing. His gaze tightened a little, and he suddenly felt that this shabby cloak didn’t match the woman before him at all. Not only was the fabric rough, but he himself had worn it for so long, rolling through the battlefield, who knew whether it had been stained with blood and dust.

But suddenly, he came back to his senses, startled to realize, how had he become like when he had amnesia? The moment he saw this woman, his mind turned muddled?

His expression stiffened slightly, and his peripheral vision unconsciously flicked toward Yang Yuanyi beside him.

Yang Yuanyi’s eyes were bright and intent, watching them with great interest. Seeing Pei Zhen glance over, he quickly withdrew his gaze and pretended to look around at the scenery.

Pei Zhen: “…”

He withdrew his gaze. Although the “woman” before him had slightly raised her pale and delicate face, staring at him in a daze, like a wife who, upon seeing her husband return from war, was so surprised she forgot how to react, he still hardened his heart and, with movements both rough and careful, tied the cloak properly for her.

Then, in a stiff tone, he said, “It’s cold. The wind is strong outside. Go wait inside.”

Li Chanxiu suddenly clenched the hand hidden beneath the cloak, lowering his lashes slightly.

When Pei Er returned from his last campaign, he had only looked at him somewhat directly in front of General Chen. But this time, he ignored General Chen entirely and, in front of so many people, came straight to drape a cloak over him. Not only were his movements careful, he even told him to go inside and wait…

Wait for what?

Thinking of that sudden embrace before he went to war, and that sentence, “wait for me to return”, could it be that he hadn’t been mistaken? That the other truly liked him and wanted to confess?

Li Chanxiu’s thoughts instantly became chaotic. He hurriedly avoided his gaze and said in haste, “I… still have things to do. I’ll go change the bandages for the wounded first.”

Without looking at him again, he turned and quickly left.

Pei Zhen was momentarily stunned. Watching his departing figure, a sense of loss and unease suddenly welled up in his heart.

Was it because his actions in tying the cloak hadn’t been gentle enough, and his tone too stiff, that the other was upset?

That must be it.

Anyone who came full of joy to greet their husband, only to be met with indifference, wouldn’t feel good.

Pei Zhen’s expression stiffened slightly; he felt he had been somewhat in the wrong.

The matter of identity could be verified slowly later. No matter what, the other was currently his wife. Since he had married her, he should take responsibility.

With this thought, he unconsciously stepped forward, intending to catch up.

At that moment, Yang Yuanyi suddenly tugged him, his eyes signaling: General Chen is still here. If you don’t want to reveal your identity, at least go through the motions.

Pei Zhen’s steps halted, as if he instantly regained his composure.

General Chen, however, didn’t mind, or perhaps he was used to it. After dismissing the soldiers and asking Pei Zhen about the pursuit of the Hu forces, he finally felt at ease. Then he couldn’t help but pat his shoulder and say with a chuckle, “Alright, I know you’re in a hurry. I won’t keep you, go see your wife.”

Pei Zhen: “…”

Yang Yuanyi: “…”

As the two left together, Yang Yuanyi shook his head and clicked his tongue. Suddenly, he sighed, “I am not someone who is swayed by personal feelings…”

Before he could finish, he was suddenly met with a cold stare.

Yang Yuanyi quickly coughed. “I meant myself, talking about myself.”

Pei Zhen remained expressionless. After withdrawing his gaze, he quickly walked toward the temporary residence he shared here with Li Chanxiu.

However, after entering, he saw no one, his little wife hadn’t returned.

“What’s going on? Not here?” Yang Yuanyi poked his head in from behind and asked.

Pei Zhen suddenly turned around and asked expressionlessly, “Are you very idle?”

Yang Yuanyi: “Uh.” Not particularly busy.

Pei Zhen: “If you’re idle, go get some food. Also send someone to Wuding Pass to deliver a message, report the latest military situation.”

After saying that, he shut the door and strode off to find Li Chanxiu among the wounded.

Yang Yuanyi: “…”

***

Li Chanxiu hadn’t expected that even after deliberately avoiding him, he would still be found by Pei Er and brought back to the temporary residence beneath the city wall.

Moreover, for some reason, Pei Er had a cold expression, his presence even more intimidating than usual, as if someone had provoked him.

Li Chanxiu wasn’t afraid of him like this, but he truly was somewhat afraid that he might suddenly confess his feelings, say something like he liked him.

If that were the case, he had to conceal his identity and absolutely couldn’t accept him. And since Pei Er didn’t know that he was actually a man, he couldn’t reveal the truth either.

Besides, even if the other truly liked him, it was the female version of him that he liked, not his true male self… sigh, it was all too complicated.

He could only pray that he had guessed wrong, that the “important matter” Pei Er wanted to talk about was something else. That way, there would be no trouble.

But if Pei Er really was going to confess… he should refuse in time. That would be best for both of them.

Thinking this, Li Chanxiu forced himself to appear calm. The hand hidden in his sleeve clenched tightly, as if his nerves were drawn taut, ready to respond at any moment.

Suddenly, that clenched hand was grasped by a dry, warm palm, his fingers slowly pried open one by one.

Li Chanxiu abruptly raised his head, the clear and beautiful eyes unable to hide his shock and stiffness.

So it was true? Pei Er really… liked him?

For a moment, his thoughts grew even more chaotic.

Seeing him stare stiffly without speaking, as if still angry, Pei Zhen couldn’t help but cough lightly.

His expression was somewhat unnatural. Recalling how his father would coax his mother whenever she was upset, he finally spoke, his voice slightly lowered: “There were too many people outside just now. I didn’t mean to act that way.”

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Li Chanxiu’s hand.

His little wife must be upset that he had been cold earlier. If he apologized properly and acted a bit closer now, it should be enough to coax her, right?

In any case, he mustn’t reveal any flaws.

Li Chanxiu was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, and quickly “understood” what he meant, Pei Er hadn’t been trying to be intimate with him just now; there were too many people, so he had to pretend to be affectionate to look like a married couple?

So, that meant the other wasn’t in love with him? Wasn’t going to confess?

Thinking of this possibility, his tense expression unconsciously relaxed a little.

Sensing this, Pei Zhen also let out a slight breath of relief and lowered his head to ask, “Not angry anymore?”

His voice inexplicably sounded like he was coaxing someone.

Li Chanxiu couldn’t help but smile. “Why would I be angry? I just…”

He paused, then decided it was better to remind him: “Don’t do that again in the future.” It really led to misunderstandings.

Pei Zhen hadn’t expected his “wife” to be so easy to coax, just a bit of closeness from him, and she forgave him. It seemed she loved and depended on him deeply.

Presumably, this was how they usually got along, so close. So today, when he was slightly distant, she got upset. It seemed his wife was not only beautiful and delicate, but also very clingy.

Although in his memory, there weren’t many instances of him being this close to her like today, he couldn’t even recall having met Yang Yuanyi yesterday, so his memory must be incomplete. He must have forgotten many intimate moments with his wife, only remembering a few.

Otherwise, how could his actions of draping a cloak over her and holding her hand feel so practiced? He must often coax her like this.

Thinking this, he led Li Chanxiu to sit down at the table together, still holding his hand.

Li Chanxiu felt suspicious. Even after explaining, why was he still holding his hand? Could it be that he had misunderstood again?

Right, the situation outside just now might have been because there were too many people, so Pei Er had to pretend. But what about that fleeting kiss this morning? And the sudden embrace when they parted? And what exactly was that “important matter” he said he would talk about after returning?

Doubts rose again in Li Chanxiu’s heart. He tried to pull his hand free with a bit of force.

Pei Zhen noticed and frowned slightly, looking at him in confusion.

Wasn’t he just coaxed? Why was he… angry again?

At that moment, Yang Yuanyi came in carrying food, taking in the whole scene. He thought to himself: Are these two still at odds?

He quickly entered, trying to lighten the mood. First, he smiled and called Li Chanxiu “sister-in-law,” then explained on Pei Zhen’s behalf: “Sister-in-law, don’t be angry. Today he was surrounded and attacked by Jiang He and his men, his head was injured, and his memory might have some issues. If he said anything inappropriate that upset you, it definitely wasn’t intentional.”

As soon as Li Chanxiu heard that Pei Er’s head was injured and his memory affected, he immediately asked in a tense voice, “You’re injured?”

Pei Zhen frowned and shot Yang Yuanyi a glance, as if blaming him for saying too much.

Yang Yuanyi wore an expression of “I’m covering for you.” Besides, he had already inquired before, this young sister-in-law was said to be a divine doctor in the camp. Now that Pei Zhen’s condition seemed off after regaining his memory, it was best to let a physician take a look.

Li Chanxiu clearly thought the same. Ignoring Pei Zhen’s objection, he reached out and removed his helmet. Only then did he see that there was a dirty strip of cloth wrapped around his head, and at the back, a dark stain had seeped through where the wound was.

Li Chanxiu’s brows immediately knitted together. “You’re injured and didn’t say earlier? What about the wound medicine I gave you? Why didn’t you use it, and just wrapped it carelessly like this?”

Pei Zhen was stunned by the “scolding,” momentarily unable to respond, as if… he had once very much enjoyed being treated like this.

Had he gone mad? How could he think that? he wondered, feeling absurd.

By now, Li Chanxiu had already started removing the dirty cloth, then fetched a basin of clean water and began cleaning the wound with a frown.

Pei Zhen sat stiffly at the table, unable to move, increasingly feeling that… he did seem to enjoy it.

His little wife’s movements in treating the wound were very gentle, and even her scolding voice sounded pleasant… Why was he thinking like this again? He must be crazy.

He kept his face stiff, not moving at all.

Yang Yuanyi stood nearby holding the food, also somewhat stiff. Why was he standing here? Why was he watching these two being “affectionate”?

After finishing treating the wound, applying medicine, and rewrapping it with clean cloth, Li Chanxiu frowned and asked, “Where exactly is your memory affected? What symptoms?”

As soon as he said it, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, could it be that the other had remembered something?

Pei Zhen frowned slightly, not yet answering, when Yang Yuanyi quickly spoke first: “He can’t clearly remember some recent events. For example, he saw me last night, but today he didn’t remember.”

If he didn’t say something, just standing there would be too awkward.

Li Chanxiu was stunned. “Lost your memory again?”

Pei Zhen hesitated. “…It seems that way.”

In fact, he still couldn’t clearly recall some things from the night he and his wife got married, for instance… their consummation.

Li Chanxiu: “……”

He glanced at Yang Yuanyi standing nearby, then suddenly probed, “This morning when you left, you said you had something important to tell me when you came back. Do you remember?”

This was the best timing. With this soldier surnamed Yang present, even if Pei Er intended to confess, he wouldn’t choose to do it now. And if not, he could test the truth.

Pei Zhen was taken aback upon hearing this. He frowned and thought for a moment, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He quickly raised a hand to press it, his expression pained.

Seeing this, both Li Chanxiu and Yang Yuanyi hurriedly told him not to think about it.

“Forget it. It’s fine if you can’t remember, it’s nothing important,” Li Chanxiu comforted.

Not remembering seemed… actually not bad.

No matter what Pei Er had wanted to say, whether he liked him or not, it no longer mattered. He had lost his memory again, and their relationship could return to how it was before. He didn’t need to worry anymore.

But Pei Zhen felt as though something was missing from his heart, as if he had forgotten the most important thing in his life. He frowned and murmured, “But you just said it was very important.”

Li Chanxiu: “……”

At this moment, Yang Yuanyi set down the food and gave Pei Zhen a meaningful look.

Pei Zhen understood. After the headache eased, he slowly stood and said to Li Chanxiu, “I’ll go out for a moment. You’ve worked all day, you must be hungry. Eat something first.”

Li Chanxiu glanced at him, unable to understand why he had suddenly become so familiar with this soldier surnamed Yang, but he still nodded.

Pei Zhen and Yang Yuanyi soon went outside.

Pei Zhen asked, “What is it?”

Yang Yuanyi looked at him and, after some thought, said, “I probably know what important thing you wanted to tell her.”

Pei Zhen lifted his eyes, signaling for him to continue.

Yang Yuanyi glanced around, then lowered his voice. “You were probably planning to tell her, after coming back, that you are Pei Zhen.”

After a pause, he cautiously looked at him again and added, “Are you not remembering very clearly? When you had amnesia, you liked her very much. In Wei Zizhou’s words, ‘your heart and eyes were full of your wife, you followed her everywhere, obeyed her every word, and wished you could hold her in your palm and cherish her’… ahem. So after learning something this important, it’s not strange at all that you’d want to tell her.”

Pei Zhen: “……”