After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 99

Lu Zhi’s sudden appearance erased the last trace of doubt in Pei Zhen’s heart.

He had not mistaken, nor misseen. That person truly was his wife, the gentle, beautiful woman from his memory, who had gone to visit her parents and whom he had been told had fallen off a cliff and died.

She hadn’t died. She really hadn’t died! Chen Qing had lied to him, he knew it, Chen Qing really had lied!

Pei Zhen’s reddened eyes locked tightly onto Li Chanxiu. His heartbeat pounded again and again, impossibly fast. Even in the fierce battle just now, his blood had not surged like this, it now felt as though it were boiling in his veins.

His grip on the spear was extremely tight, his knuckles pale. Only by force of will did he keep himself from trembling. Yet an uncontrollable smile gradually appeared in his eyes, and as he smiled, his eyes began to moisten. Only, his expression was so terrifying, his eyes so red, that even that layer of moisture seemed stained crimson.

Li Chanxiu, too, finally came back to himself. His refined face still carried the pallor of shock.

Seeing that after recognizing him, Pei Zhen had first frozen, then actually smiled, but as he smiled, it seemed almost as if he were smiling out “bloody tears,” as though he had suffered a tremendous blow…

Li Chanxiu’s heart suddenly tightened, sinking instantly to the bottom.

He knew, he had deceived him. He was not a woman at all, but the commander of the rebel army, yet he had married him.

Although it had been a fake marriage at the beginning, Pei Er had lost his memory midway and forgotten. And in those last few days before leaving, in order to preserve his identity, he had tacitly allowed the misunderstanding to continue.

But he had never expected that Pei Er was actually Pei Zhen.

Now that the other suddenly knew the truth, that the person he had married, fallen for, and shared a bed with was actually a man, and moreover the commander of the enemy army, who had deceived him, what would he think?

Li Chanxiu gripped the reins tighter and tighter, his face pale as snow. Fortunately, with Lu Zhi standing in front of him, he was spared from showing too much loss of composure.

Lu Zhi turned and clearly saw the enemy commander, realizing it was Pei Er, he too was greatly surprised. But his expression did not change. Thinking of the dangerous scene he had just witnessed upon arriving, he immediately said to those behind him, “Escort His Highness away.”

Only then did Pei Zhen shift his gaze to Lu Zhi. Just now, he had been too overwhelmed with joy to consider many questions. But now, seeing Lu Zhi standing in front of him, seemingly very familiar with his wife, and even that his wife stood quietly behind him, pale and “frightened”, an inexplicable surge of violent anger rose in his chest.

His face turned cold as ice. Gripping his spear tightly, his gaze like blades, he said coldly, “Move.”

Seeing him like this, how could Lu Zhi possibly give way?

Behind them, the Bingzhou army saw their commander suddenly charge alone into the rebel ranks, as if to capture the rebel commander, but soon he was surrounded and attacked… Though ambush tactics were disgraceful, their commander was being surrounded, how could they not go to his aid?

Immediately, several generals led a group of cavalry rushing forward to break the encirclement.

Seeing this, Yan Xiaoming thought the enemy was launching a large-scale attack and immediately ordered, “Beat the drums, attack! Zhou Kai, escort His Highness away, quickly!”

On the opposing side, seeing the drums begin and the army mobilize, they did not hesitate and likewise beat the drums to attack.

In an instant, the two armies clashed in chaotic battle, the cries of killing shaking the sky. Zhou Kai and the others hastily mounted their horses again, surrounding Li Chanxiu at the center as they escorted him toward the rear.

The change came too quickly. By the time Li Chanxiu tried to give orders, it was already too late. Surrounded by his guards, he could only keep turning his head to look back, but soon he would no longer be able to see Pei Zhen’s figure.

Pei Zhen had just confirmed it was him, only to see him being escorted away. Instantly, his eyes grew even redder, and yet Lu Zhi was still blocking his way.

His expression turned cold and fierce. Without holding back in the slightest, he swept his spear horizontally and forced out the words through clenched teeth: “Move!”

However, Lu Zhi’s skills were also formidable. After blocking his spear, he immediately counterattacked. At the same time, Yan Xiaoming led men to attack again, though this was unexpected, the opportunity was rare. If they could capture Pei Zhen at this moment, it would be a tremendous victory for the rebel army!

Yan Xiaoming’s gaze sharpened as he struck with his long blade in an instant, no blame on him; who told this guy to charge in like a sneak attack?

Serve you right for trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead! Yan Xiaoming thought to himself, feeling this was a heaven-sent chance.

“My heavens!” Seeing the situation, Yang Yuanyi hurriedly rode forward.

He had never expected that in the blink of an eye, Pei Zhen would charge into the enemy ranks, and in another blink, be surrounded.

Although he could understand the surge of emotion upon suddenly seeing a wife believed dead come back to life, this was a bit too much excitement, his own heart could hardly take it.

Even knowing how formidable Pei Zhen was, having seen him spear through a dozen, even over twenty opponents before, he still couldn’t just go around doing such dangerous things every time, could he?

At this moment, deep within enemy ranks, Pei Zhen instead grew more ferocious the more he fought. With another sweep of his spear, he forced several more back. Blood had already splashed across his black armor; even his cold, stern face was stained with blood. Yet his expression was savage, his brows filled with killing intent, like an asura from h*ll, his gaze fixed relentlessly in the direction where Li Chanxiu had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhi and Yan Xiaoming were both extremely difficult opponents, firmly blocking his path. The violent aura between his brows grew heavier, and his attacks became increasingly ruthless.

At this moment, Yang Yuanyi and several Bingzhou generals finally arrived. After hurriedly breaking the encirclement, they saw that Pei Zhen still intended to charge forward. Yang Yuanyi quickly grabbed him tightly: “Jianzhi, I know you’re anxious, but calm down first. Shen… now that we already know where she is, what’s there to worry about? There will be chances to meet.”

At the same time, escorted safely to the rear, Li Chanxiu finally steadied himself and immediately went to a high point to observe the chaotic battle between the two armies, 

The Bingzhou soldiers, having been pent up for so many days, had long been holding back their energy. Now on the battlefield, engaging in direct combat, each one was fearless and exceptionally fierce.

Li Chanxiu’s heart sank. Coming down, he immediately ordered, “Send word to General Yan at the front, withdraw.”

It was not that their rebel army lacked bravery, but with thirty thousand against fifty thousand, and no tactical advantage, engaging in a direct clash was too disadvantageous.

Most importantly, there was no need for them to fight to the death. If they continued, not only was the chance of victory extremely low, but even if they won, it would only be a pyrrhic victory with too great a cost.

And even at such a cost, they still would not be able to completely eliminate the enemy. After all, the Bingzhou army still had fifty thousand troops in camp, and another thirty to forty thousand had retreated to Liangzhou.

When the order reached the front, Yan Xiaoming was still frustrated over failing to capture Pei Zhen.

Seeing the opportunity already lost, he knew continuing the fight would indeed be disadvantageous. He immediately said, “Follow His Highness’s command, withdraw. I’ll cover the rear.”

At this moment, Lu Zhi cupped his hands and said, “General Yan, you lead the troops to withdraw first. I will cover the rear.”

“You?” Yan Xiaoming hesitated, looking at this refined young man who seemed more like a scholar.

But recalling his earlier display of skill, no less than his own, he nodded, half convinced: “Fine. I’ll leave two generals to assist you.”

On the other side, after hearing Yang Yuanyi’s words, Pei Zhen finally began to calm down.

The redness in his eyes receded into cold composure. Looking at the battle before him, he suddenly abandoned his plan to annihilate the enemy and instead formed a new one, to encircle this rebel force and capture alive… the enemy commander.

However, he was still one step too late. By the time he issued orders, Li Chanxiu had already begun an orderly withdrawal, leaving Lu Zhi and others to cover the rear.

Returning to camp, knowing Pei Zhen would certainly pursue, Li Chanxiu immediately ordered the camp to move as well: “Everyone return to the city first. Also send word to inform Lu Zhi and the others.”

At West Hill Slope, Lu Zhi, responsible for the rear guard, had originally wanted to find an opportunity to meet Pei Zhen and speak with him. But after Li Chanxiu’s departure, Pei Zhen no longer charged forward, instead directing from the rear.

Unable to meet him, Lu Zhi could only regretfully lead the rear guard in retreat.

As soon as he withdrew, Pei Zhen’s army surged forward in pursuit, chasing for dozens of li until they reached the northern gate of the prefectural city.

Holding a bloodstained spear, Pei Zhen reined in his horse before the formation. The blood on his cold face had been wiped away, but his gaze remained deep and chilling.

After watching the tightly shut city gates and the cold, towering walls for a while, his eyes narrowed slightly. Turning his head, he raised a hand to signal Yang Yuanyi.

Yang Yuanyi immediately understood and instructed a nearby general: “Call them out.”

That general had earlier been humiliated by the rebels’ taunts and was still holding in frustration. After today’s fierce battle, he was feeling bold and invigorated. Seeing General Pei and Young General Yang asking him to shout a challenge, he thought this was their chance to strike back, to vent their anger.

So he took a deep breath and shouted loudly toward the city walls: “You rats in the city, dare come out and fight your grandpa?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Yang Yuanyi froze and turned to look at Pei Zhen. Pei Zhen’s gaze also snapped toward him.

Yet the general, unaware, seeing no response from the city, shouted again: “You rats in the city, open the gates and fight your grandpa! What, turned into turtles hiding in your shells? Hahaha! No wonder, I say, your Little General looks all delicate and fair, like some girl dressed as a man. The moment he saw our general, he got so scared he hid behind others, don’t tell me he really is a girl? Hahaha…”

Beside him, cold sweat poured down Yang Yuanyi’s face, while Pei Zhen’s expression turned dark.

Still, the general wasn’t satisfied shouting alone and even urged the soldiers behind him to shout together.

Just as they all began to yell “rats in the city, ” Pei Zhen’s temple veins throbbed. With a darkened face, he cut them off: “Silence! Who told you to shout like that?”

Everyone immediately fell silent. The general let out an awkward “uh,” looking confused.

Yang Yuanyi also felt awkward. Though General Zhan’s words were indeed harsh, calling out challenges in battle was never about saying nice things, everyone did the same. Even little sister-in-law’s earlier tactic had been quite vicious too… cough.

But as for saying something nicer, they really didn’t know how to shout it. They couldn’t very well have a whole group of soldiers yell in unison: Little General, please come out, we, our general wants to see you!

Just imagining that scene, Yang Yuanyi couldn’t help shivering.

Fortunately, Pei Zhen wasn’t that mushy. Soon, the soldiers behind him loudly shouted: “Little General, our commander invites you to come out of the city for a meeting! Little General, please come out for a meeting!”

The cries rang out one after another.

Riding his horse, Pei Zhen paced back and forth before the formation, his expressionless gaze fixed on the city walls. The dark cloak behind him made his figure appear solemn and cold.

Inside the city, Li Chanxiu sat together with Lu Zhi and the other generals. Hearing the shouting outside, for some reason his expression turned awkward. Especially when he noticed everyone looking at him, he felt as if the secret between him and Pei Zhen had already been exposed.

Lu Zhi, however, calmly took a sip of tea and said, “It’s just a challenge call.”

He didn’t mention the prior relationship between Li Chanxiu and Pei Zhen.

Li Chanxiu immediately nodded and lightly coughed. “Right, we don’t need to pay attention to it for now.”

With an ostrich-like mindset, he didn’t dare face Pei Zhen at all at this moment, if he could avoid it for a while, then so be it. Besides, with Pei Zhen leading an army to attack, they should be holding the city and not coming out anyway.

Outside the city, Pei Zhen’s army took turns shouting challenges, from noon until the sun tilted westward.

Seeing that dusk was approaching and the city still showed no movement, Yang Yuanyi couldn’t help saying to Pei Zhen, “General, should we withdraw to camp first and come again tomorrow?”

Pei Zhen stared at the city gates with a heavy gaze. After a long while, just as Yang Yuanyi was about to urge him again, he finally said, “Withdraw.”

He uttered those two words expressionlessly. As he left with the army, he turned back to look at the city gates several times, secretly grinding his teeth. He wanted to see how long the other side could keep hiding.

Inside the city, when Li Chanxiu heard that Pei Zhen had finally withdrawn, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

According to the plan, they should have taken advantage of the enemy army’s possible disorder during withdrawal and pursued them out of the city. But for some reason, Li Chanxiu didn’t bring it up.

Yan Xiaoming climbed the city wall to observe and, seeing that Pei Zhen’s army retreated in an orderly manner without any chaos, also gave up the thought of attacking.

***

After returning to camp, Yang Yuanyi, who had followed closely behind Pei Zhen, could no longer hold back his excitement. The words he had been bottling up poured out all at once:

“I knew it, I knew it! The first time I saw her, I thought she looked familiar, doesn’t she look just like the Crown Prince Li Xuan and the Crown Princess back then? Hey, did you hear earlier? Several rebel generals called her ‘Your Highness.’ She’s that princess! So she didn’t die, no wonder she looked familiar…”

Pei Zhen had been walking quickly with a frown. Hearing this, he finally couldn’t help turning his head. “Only realizing it now, isn’t that a bit late?”

Yang Yuanyi: “Uh.”

He felt a little embarrassed, but seeing Pei Zhen continue striding ahead, he hurried to catch up and said, “You can’t blame me. When the Crown Prince was placed under house arrest, I was only five years old. After that, no one ever saw the Crown Prince or Crown Princess again, what could a four- or five-year-old remember?”

After saying that, he pondered for a moment, then finally brought up Li Chanxiu’s identity and asked worriedly, “Jianzhi, have you thought about it? Since she’s the enemy’s princess, can you… can you still marry her?”

He spoke cautiously. Influenced by his first impression, he never considered that Li Chanxiu might be male.

After all, when the Crown Princess gave birth back then, His Majesty had personally sent people to watch, precisely to prevent the Crown Prince from having a son. Later, the Crown Princess had a difficult delivery, and it was confirmed the child was a girl and might not live long. Only then did His Majesty feel at ease and deliberately send the child to be raised by Li Xuan.

Since this princess had survived and grown up, she must truly be a princess. Otherwise, she would have quietly died at birth.

Moreover, Li Chanxiu had been frail since childhood, not very old, with a build somewhat slighter than a man’s. His features were delicate, his skin fair, beautiful to the point of being indistinguishable between male and female. So even wearing armor, Yang Yuanyi assumed he was a woman disguised as a man.

As for leading troops, since he was Li Xuan’s only child, one who had depended on him for eighteen years, it wasn’t strange to dote on her and let her command armies. Besides, wasn’t there also a female general among the rebels? Clearly, they didn’t mind such things.

Pei Zhen, influenced by the same preconceptions, didn’t think further either.

In his memory, he and his wife had consummated their marriage. Having shared a bed for so long, how could he not know whether she was male or female? In fact, on one of the nights before their parting, his arm had accidentally brushed against his wife’s chest, it had been soft…

Pei Zhen coughed lightly, the tips of his ears suddenly turning a bit red.

Naturally, he didn’t know that Li Chanxiu, having realized that they would inevitably end up sharing a bed those days, had stuffed cotton into his chest to avoid being exposed.

Most importantly, Pei Zhen also didn’t believe that His Majesty would allow the Crown Prince to have a living son.

But after hearing Yang Yuanyi’s words, his eyes darkened slightly, and he began to recognize the issue of identity.

Before, he had deliberately avoided thinking about it. His only thought had been to see his wife first. But now that he had returned to camp and calmed down, he had no choice but to reflect deeply.

His wife was actually the Crown Prince’s daughter, and the rebel commander. This truly surprised him.

At this moment, he finally understood what secret she had always been hiding.

Their identities were opposed, one the rebel commander and daughter of the rebel leader, the other a general sent by the court to suppress the rebellion. It was clear they could not be together.

Even if the court suddenly chose to offer amnesty, it would only extend to people other than Li Xuan among the rebels. His Majesty would never allow Li Xuan and his child to live. No matter what, it was impossible for them.

Pei Zhen’s gaze deepened, turning somewhat dark. For a fleeting moment, he even thought, if only he could disregard everything and go to his wife’s side.

But it was only a fleeting thought. The responsibility on his shoulders made it impossible for him to abandon the hundred thousand Bingzhou troops and leave alone. Years of conviction and ambition made it even more impossible for him to give up returning to Bingzhou or to neglect the nation.

Moreover, his parents and younger brother were still under His Majesty’s watch, how could he abandon his family?

Thinking of all this, his expression gradually dimmed. He said nothing, sinking into silence.

Yang Yuanyi only felt that he had suddenly grown cold, as if trapped in a thick, icy fog, his expression suppressed, obscure, and difficult to read.

Yang Yuanyi suddenly felt a bit regretful for bringing up this topic too early. Just as he was about to say a few words of comfort, he saw Pei Zhen’s gaze suddenly brighten, like dark clouds abruptly dispersing, as if he had instantly figured something out.

“No matter,” Pei Zhen said. It was unclear whether he was explaining or consoling himself. “The fact that she’s still alive is already very good news. The world is ever-changing, if things are handled slowly, they will come together in the end. There will always be opportunities in the future. Right now, her being safe and sound is more important than anything.”

Yang Yuanyi: “……”

His expression was complicated, but on second thought, he felt it made sense. At the very least, the other man’s wife was still alive, wasn’t that better than the tragic news of “falling off a cliff and having her remains carried off by wild wolves”?

At least now Jianzhi was no longer stretched tight like a bowstring about to snap, nor did he have to continue tormenting himself in pain.

Although his wife had suddenly become the rebel army’s commander, Jianzhi didn’t have any personal enmity with Li Xuan. The one with enmity was His Majesty, the one who had imprisoned him for eighteen years.

After saying this, Pei Zhen quickly returned to his own tent.

But just as he reached the tent entrance, he seemed to think of something and suddenly stopped, turning his head to ask, “By the way, earlier you said I almost married… cough, was almost betrothed to the princess. What was that about?”

After speaking, he looked at Yang Yuanyi with a somewhat burning gaze.

Yang Yuanyi: “……”

His expression grew even more complicated. Who was it earlier that told him to shut up and not say anything?

“Ahem, it’s not that you were almost betrothed to the princess,” he explained with a cough. “Back then, when His Majesty conferred the title of princess on her, he intended to use her for a political marriage… I think mainly to make things difficult for the Crown Prince. Then rumors spread in Luoyang about which people His Majesty might betroth the princess to, you were one of those mentioned. But Yan Wang, knowing you had no intention of marrying, hurried into the palace to explain to His Majesty, and then…” there was no “then.”

Pei Zhen: “……”

“Of course, the main thing was that the princess suddenly fell seriously ill at the time, it was said she might not make it, and there was also opposition within the court, so in the end it just faded away,” Yang Yuanyi added vaguely.

Looking at it now, the princess’s sudden illness back then was probably no coincidence. And the opposition within the court was likely Li Xuan’s doing.

Or perhaps the whole matter had been a test by His Majesty. After testing, he discovered that there were still people in the court who sided with the Crown Prince, so he temporarily set aside the idea of abolishing him.

After all, two years ago, His Majesty had indeed hinted to the court that he wanted to depose the Crown Prince, but that too had ultimately come to nothing.

After hearing this, Pei Zhen said expressionlessly, “My father rejected it?”

Yang Yuanyi: “……” No, how are you not understanding? This was just rumors from the start; no one ever actually said they would betroth you two!

They were rumors, all rumors! And you were only one of several names mentioned at the time, there were also rumors about a few other noble sons.

But after glancing at Pei Zhen’s expression, Yang Yuanyi wisely didn’t say that last part. Instead, he forced a dry laugh and said, “Actually, it was a good thing you two didn’t end up together back then. Otherwise, you’d have been kept in the capital and wouldn’t have been able to return to Bingzhou. And good things take time, maybe there will still be a chance in the future.”

Pei Zhen gave a light snort, said nothing more, and turned to enter the tent.

Inside the tent, Chen Qing hurriedly got up from where he had been pressed against the entrance.

But recalling what he had just overheard, he was inwardly shocked: Pei Er… no, the Yan Wang Shizi was actually planning to marry some princess?

This was too much, he had just learned of Miss Shen’s death that morning, and by evening he was thinking of marrying a princess… Though men were often fickle, to be this heartless was truly rare.

Chen Qing, also a man, felt some disdain, and even more so felt it unfair for Miss Shen.

Thinking of how, back in the wounded soldiers’ camp, Miss Shen had personally stitched up his injuries, a surge of hot-blooded emotion rose in him, briefly overwhelming his fear.

For a moment, carried away by a sense of righteousness, he gathered his courage and pretended not to know that Pei Zhen had already lifted the tent flap. Facing away from the entrance, he wailed mournfully: “Miss Shen, your death was so trag…ahh…”

Pei Zhen, who had just lifted the tent flap, paused, then immediately cut him off with a dark expression: “What are you wailing for? Shut up!”

Chen Qing froze, feeling even more that Li Chanxiu had been wronged, he wasn’t even allowed to mourn her.

Pei Zhen, however, had realized that his wife was not Miss Shen, and his expression improved slightly.

He strode into the tent, sat down, and looked at Chen Qing, who, after his burst of courage, had started shrinking back again.

After silently scrutinizing him for a long time, he finally spoke: “Tell me everything you know about how Shen Xiu fell off the cliff, carefully, in full detail, without leaving out a single word.”

Chen Qing was thoroughly frightened. He had never imagined that when Pei Er’s face turned truly cold, it would be far more terrifying than in the wounded soldiers’ camp.

He nodded quickly and, without much thought, recounted everything he knew. Only when it came to Zhang Hu’s failure in escorting her did he hesitate, then chose to conceal quite a bit on his behalf.

Although he was dissatisfied with Zhang Hu’s actions, he also felt that, as comrades, it was better not to expose him. Perhaps Zhang Hu hadn’t done it on purpose, and besides, Miss Shen had always treated Zhang Hu well; she probably wouldn’t have wanted him to lose his life over this.

But even if he didn’t say it, Pei Zhen would certainly ask.

Especially under Pei Zhen’s dark, unreadable yet scrutinizing gaze, fixed coldly on him, Chen Qing felt his scalp go numb. In the end, he couldn’t withstand the pressure and told the truth.

After finishing, he still mustered the courage to cautiously add a word in Zhang Hu’s defense: “Y-Your Highness Shizi… perhaps Zhang Hu didn’t do it on purpose.”

Hearing this, Pei Zhen suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Not on purpose? Did he think he was a fool?

After hearing Chen Qing’s account, and combining it with his wife’s current identity, how could Pei Zhen not see that the so-called bandit ambush and cliff fall had been arranged in advance?

Those “bandits” and her “family” were likely people sent by the Crown Prince to retrieve her. And Zhang Hu had known everything, even cooperating to cover it up.

Good. Very good indeed.

He had trusted Zhang Hu so much. If that man were here in Liangzhou now, he would have him dragged out immediately and beaten with thirty strokes first!

Whatever the princess said, he believed? Wasn’t he afraid something might go wrong in the middle? What if something had gone wrong, what if those bandits had been real bandits?

If the matter of falling off the cliff were to turn real?

Pei Zhen felt a lingering fear just thinking about it.

After calming down, he instructed Chen Qing, “From now on, don’t say that Miss Shen is dead… forget it, you may go out first.”

Suddenly thinking that the real Miss Shen might indeed be dead, he stopped himself again.

Chen Qing immediately let out a sigh of relief. But as he got up to leave, he shuffled a couple of steps, then couldn’t help turning back and asking in a low voice, “Um… Shi–Shizi, are you really going to marry the princess?”

Perhaps noticing that Pei Zhen hadn’t done anything to him, his courage also grew.

Pei Zhen was startled upon hearing this, and instantly understood why the other had looked so mournful just now. He couldn’t help but fall speechless, rubbing his temples as he said, “Don’t talk nonsense. Miss Shen is the princess, the Crown Prince’s daughter.”

“Ah?” Chen Qing was completely stunned, unable to come back to his senses for a long while.

Good heavens, not only had the Shizi whittled him a crutch, the Princess herself had even bandaged his wounds. In his past life, he must have accumulated great merit, right?

Chen Qing drifted out of the tent in a daze, like a wandering soul.

After he left, Pei Zhen finally had the quiet to carefully recall, alone, every scene of their reunion today.

So she was the Crown Prince’s daughter. No wonder she was so talented and knowledgeable, with such extraordinary vision, she must have been influenced by her surroundings since childhood.

It was only unclear how she had learned such medical skills. And the sight of her today, riding on horseback in armor, had been dazzling, more beautiful than at any other time.

Resting his forehead on his hand, Pei Zhen replayed in his mind every single expression Li Chanxiu had shown at the time, serious, surprised, stunned…

So it turned out that she had been the one to take Ningcheng, and the one who had been confronting Yang Yuanyi these past few days. Truly intelligent and graceful, pure as ice and snow. And even had people hurling insults in battle…

Pei Zhen shook his head and let out a soft laugh. He had always thought his wife to be gentle and composed, yet he hadn’t expected her to have such a mischievous side.

The corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward, and a trace of a smile lingered in his dark, jade-like eyes. Until the scene in his mind reached the moment Lu Zhi appeared, his smile suddenly froze.

He instantly lowered the hand that had been supporting his temple, his expression turning blank.

Why was Lu Zhi on the rebel side, and together with his wife?

What exactly was their relationship? When they met in Yongfeng, was it their first meeting, or had they known each other long before?

From what he saw today, Lu Zhi addressed the princess as “Your Highness,” clearly already aware of her identity, much earlier than he had been.

And he, even now, didn’t even know what the princess’s real name was.

A flicker of gloom passed through Pei Zhen’s expression.

He suddenly very much wanted to see the princess, right now, at this very moment, an urge he could not suppress.