Chapter 80
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Ming Yu refrained from asking further, feeling a bit stifled. But then he thought, why bother? If he didn’t know, he would find out eventually, right?
The pursuing troops arrived swiftly, reaching the small settlement during the same night.
The thunderous sound of galloping hooves echoed like a tempest. Han Da, along with several respected individuals from the tribe, went out to meet them.
Torches illuminated the scene as brightly as daylight, and a commanding officer stood high above, observing the bowing herders below.
“Let me ask you, have you seen two unfamiliar Han men around?” the commander bellowed.
An elderly man beside Han Da trembled as he shook his head. “General, we’ve never had strangers in our tribe.”
It was unclear whether the commander believed this response. He waved his hand dismissively. “We’re acting on the orders of Hunle Wang. If you have nothing to hide, it’s best. But let me warn you, if anyone dares to shelter or conceal these strangers, the annihilation of your tribe will be the price.”
The chilling threat sent shivers through the gathered herders. They swore they would never allow such a thing to happen. If strangers did arrive, they would be the first to hand them over to the authorities.
The intimidation seemed effective. The commander nodded in satisfaction, then ordered his subordinates, “Search the place.”
After his warning, the commander turned back and tried to reassure the herders. “There’s no need to panic. We’ll conduct a thorough search. If you have nothing to do with this, you won’t be implicated.”
The people nodded in response. The soldiers were already organized into small groups and began searching tent by tent.
The commander gestured, and a soldier stepped forward with two portraits, presenting them to the herders. “Look closely and remember. If you spot these individuals, report immediately!”
Han Da quickly approached and carefully looked at the portraits. Indeed, the two people depicted in the pictures were their general and Wang Ye. Not to mention anything else, anyone familiar with them could recognize them at a glance. Fortunately, they had changed their appearances and identities. Otherwise, it’s possible that they would have had a hard time escaping from this kind of search.
He felt a bit anxious. He had already arranged the things Wang Ye had instructed, by now, there should be some news coming in.
Other people also carefully examined the portraits, making sure to remember them so they could report if they encountered these two in the future.
Within the gathering area, due to the search by the official soldiers, the previously peaceful and tranquil atmosphere was disrupted. The chaotic noises of cattle, sheep, horses, and the cries of children filled the air.
Ming Yu cast a glance outside the tent, where there was a flurry of activity, almost as if the entire gathering area was boiling with commotion.
“What should we do?” Ming Yu was somewhat panicked. Despite growing up to this age, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.
Originally, Xie Yixiu was peering through the gap in the tent curtain, but he quickly approached and pulled down half of Ming Yu’s clothing, tucking it into the bedding, then he ruffled his own jet-black hair, making it messy and disheveled on the pillow.
Before Ming Yu could react, Xie Yixiu had already whispered in his ear, “They’re about to come in.”
Finishing his words, Xie Yixiu started undressing himself until only his inner garment remained. Just then, there were shouts from outside, “Capture the fugitives! No one is allowed to obstruct us, otherwise, there will be no mercy.”
Xie Yixiu glanced at Ming Yu, then walked towards the entrance. Just as he reached the doorway, someone burst in, asking, “Who are the people here? Are there any fugitives hiding in the tents?”
One of the local villagers who had followed them in explained with a smile, fearing that the soldiers might not know the situation, “This is Han Da’s nephew, named Ba Lun. He recently married a young bride. General, it’s not possible for us to harbor criminals here.”
The soldier sized up Xie Yixiu from head to toe. This man had a scruffy beard, dark skin, and was hunching his body with his head lowered, clearly having just gotten out of bed as he was bare-chested and hadn’t had time to put on clothes yet.
Xie Yixiu’s entire body was soaked in an herbal solution, his face and skin were darkened. Coupled with his altered appearance, it was hard to recognize him at first glance.
“What’s your name? Are there any other people here?” The soldier asked in Suixi dialect. They were used to these situations and were just conducting routine patrols and inquiries.
Xie Yixiu lowered his body and started speaking in Suixi dialect as well, carefully saying, “I’m called Ba Lun. Han Da is my uncle, and, um, also my wife.” He said the last part with a hint of embarrassment, showing the shyness of a newlywed.
The soldier glanced at the bed covered with animal skin blankets and took a step toward it. Hearing the footsteps, Ming Yu’s heart leaped to his throat.
“General, my wife, she, she hasn’t put on her clothes yet. How about, how about you wait a moment, General? I can, I can get her dressed before she meets anyone?” Xie Yixiu intervened in time, holding Ming Yu back and accompanying it with a smile.
The soldier frowned; it wasn’t that troublesome. He was just here to take a look at the appearance of this person. If they had to wait for everyone to freshen up and get dressed, their targets would have fled back to the Great Yan long ago.
Impatiently shaking Xie Yixiu’s hand off, the soldier took a couple of steps forward. In the meantime, Ming Yu’s hand inside the blanket had already grasped a dagger, just in case.
At that moment, a howling sound swept over. The soldier abruptly stopped and listened, his expression changing. Ignoring the person on the bed, he quickly dashed out, motioning for the others who were searching to withdraw as well. They began to regroup.
When the tent finally quieted down, Ming Yu relaxed and wiped off the cold sweat. Even though he was disguised as a woman, he wasn’t actually a woman. With careful observation, everything about him could be exposed.
Xie Yixiu walked over to the side of the bed, “Wang Ye, I was impolite just now. Please forgive me.”
Ming Yu wasn’t bothered by Xie Yixiu’s recent actions. He understood that the situation was urgent, he couldn’t blame Xie Yixiu for that small matter.
He managed a faint smile. His heart had just returned to its normal rhythm. He waved his hand dismissively and said, “There’s no need to apologize for any impoliteness. Our current situation doesn’t leave room for such concerns. On the contrary, General Xie’s swift reaction and adaptive handling of unexpected situations deserve recognition.” He paused, glancing outside where things seemed to have calmed down. He couldn’t fathom why their pursuers had suddenly left. He inquired tentatively, “Did they really leave?”
Looking at the figure before him, Ming Yu with his partially unbuttoned attire and long hair cascading down, uniquely captivating and unaware of it, Xie Yixiu’s heart skipped a beat as he lowered his gaze, soothingly saying, “There’s no danger now. They should have headed south in pursuit.”
Ming Yu suddenly realized, “This is your contingency plan, isn’t it?” The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He grabbed Xie Yixiu’s arm, demanding, “Quickly, tell me what’s going on?”
However, as he grabbed him, Ming Yu began to feel that something was amiss. Xie Yixiu had intentionally taken off his clothes earlier to feign the appearance of just having woken up. At this moment, his upper body was bare, and he hadn’t had the chance to put his clothes back on.
Ming Yu scrutinized Xie Yixiu’s robust and muscular physique, praising him with a click of his tongue. He couldn’t help but admire, truly worthy of a battle-hardened warrior, such a well-built body. Look at those eight-pack abs! Why was he just a chubby and soft person? Life’s so unfair! His emotions of envy and jealousy showed on his face, making it look rather strange.
Xie Yixiu followed Ming Yu’s gaze and realized his own indiscretion. He quickly turned around and began picking up his scattered clothes, calmly putting them on one by one.
Ming Yu looked at Xie Yixiu’s blushing ears, amused by this side of Xie Yixiu that he had never seen before. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
With the tension from earlier now dissipated, Ming Yu was in a playful mood. He teased, “General, are you feeling shy?” He leaned closer, patted the bed, and continued with a playful tone, “Come on! A physique like this, so perfectly fit, should be displayed for everyone to admire. It’s a feast for the eyes! I haven’t seen enough yet. It would be such a waste to hide it!”
Xie Yixiu shot him an annoyed look. The more Ming Yu teased him, the more flustered he became. He even managed to tie his clothes incorrectly.
The mischievous culprit, Ming Yu, continued to tease, completely unaware that he was causing Xie Yixiu to feel embarrassed. He casually remarked, “Ah, the allure of physical beauty is only human nature. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, right?”
Xie Yixiu realized his mistake and began to untie his clothes to redo them, deciding to ignore Ming Yu. However, Ming Yu continued teasing, he seemed to be getting more into it.
“Tsk! Look at you now. What will you do when you married a wife in the future?”
Ming Yu’s words struck a chord with Xie Yixiu. He stared into Ming Yu’s eyes, which were sparkling with mischief, as he stepped closer.
Ming Yu, a bit slow to catch on, noticed the approaching figure and raised his eyes. He looked into Xie Yixiu’s deep eyes, which seemed to contain a hint of fierceness and determination, like an injured trapped beast.
Ming Yu’s heart skipped a beat. unconsciously leaning backward. However, Xie Yixiu continued to approach, getting even closer.
Why was he getting so angry over a playful comment? He felt his heart rate increasing rapidly. “I…”
Ming Yu had just begun to speak, wanting to say something, but Xie Yixiu leaned in close to his ear, lowered his voice, and said, “I won’t marry anyone, not for the rest of my life.”
As he finished speaking, Xie Yixiu gently exhaled, his voice tinged with delight, and in a firm tone, he said, “Aren’t you my wife now?” After saying these words, Xie Yixiu gracefully stepped back.
The air around Ming Yu finally began to circulate, his mind felt like something had explosively shattered inside it. A surge of warmth rushed over him, coloring his fair cheeks with a deep blush. Even his earlobes tingled with the lingering sensation of Xie Yixiu’s presence.
Ming Yu pinched his earlobe. What on earth did that mean? Saying that he’s Xie Yixiu’s wife? Medicine can be taken haphazardly, but words can’t be spoken carelessly!
Xie Yixiu, on the other hand, curled the corner of his lips into a subtle smile. He was pleased with Ming Yu’s reaction, calmly saying, “I’ll go out and check the situation first.” With that, he left the tent without paying much attention to Ming Yu’s almost furious expression.
Once outside, Xie Yixiu rubbed his fingertips together. His usually expressionless face was now tinged with a suspicious hint of red. The scent lingering on Ming Yu’s body seemed to still be wafting around his nose, making his heart race uncontrollably. He almost felt like he had to escape. Staying inside would have suffocated him.
As the night breeze blew gently, it dispersed the enchanting fragrance and, along with it, the unique scent that had been on his nose. Finally, he could steady himself. He didn’t dare to go back and face Ming Yu again, so he had no choice but to look outside and assess the situation.
Left alone in the wind, Ming Yu was in disarray. What was wrong with this guy? He flirted and then ran away? He had some impressive flirting skills himself, but he’d never been able to put them to good use, remaining single for over twenty years.
Yet, Xie Yixiu was undeniably skilled at flirting, and he was good-looking too. He could easily find himself a well-bred lady from a respectable family. Why did he say he wouldn’t marry? After some thought, Ming Yu could only surmise that Xie Yixiu had spent most of his life in the army, with little to no contact with young ladies. That’s probably why he said such things.
Considering Xie Yixiu’s age, he was no longer young. If he didn’t plan to marry, it was probably because he had a thin skin and hadn’t found a lady he really liked.
Hmm! When they return to the capital, he can take Xie Yixiu around to see the sights. He remembered that in the capital, the sons and daughters of nobility often host garden parties and poetry events. He never had the inclination to attend such gatherings before, and, of course, he was never invited. However, when they return to the capital, he can take Xie Yixiu along for some matchmaking. Who knows, there might be some young ladies who appreciate General Xie. As long as they find the right match, he’ll do everything he can to support them. With him on their side, any obstacles will be insignificant.
Ming Yu, who was quite easygoing, was already beginning to worry about Xie Yixiu’s future
marriage. He pondered what kind of lady would be a suitable match for a general who possessed both intelligence and bravery and had striking good looks.
Luckily, Xie Yixiu was unaware of Ming Yu’s thoughts. Otherwise, he might have been tempted to just kill the idea right then and there!
Show your support and appreciation at Ko-fi! Additionally, you can get one early access chapter per one-off support! Don’t forget! There are also memberships for exclusive contents! You can get up to 8 early access chapters all at once!
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
