Mercenary Princess - Chapter 93
Before dawn, Fan Luo indeed brought exciting good news. All thirty ropes were cut, and the nearly two hundred bandits guarding the ropes were completely helpless against our army's surprise attack. With almost no casualties, our army cut off the enemy's retreat.
Listening to Fan Luo's report, Rong Yue nodded in satisfaction. When she heard him complaining that they hadn't killed enough, Rong Yue interrupted him with a smile: "Alright, when the time comes for a full-scale attack, I'll make you the vanguard, okay?"
Two bull eyes gleamed brightly: "General, is what you say true?"
"really!"
"Then, it's settled then, General, you can't go back on your word!"
"Alright, alright, I know. Go and rest now. There might be a war to fight soon!"
"Understood!" Fan Luo saluted and happily led his spear out.
Rubbing her sore shoulders, Rongyue slumped wearily into the wooden chair, stretched, and drifted off to sleep. But when her eyes caught sight of Tuoba Chen sitting quietly and intently in the corner, staring at her, she was startled, and her yawn froze on her lips: "What are you doing here?" Previously, during meetings, because she didn't know the two men's understanding of military strategy, she always dragged the two supervisors along, hoping they could offer some advice. But gradually, after Rongyue discovered that the two men were truly 'illiterate' in this area, she completely gave up hope and stopped informing them of meetings. Therefore, seeing Tuoba Chen in the meeting tent was truly a surprise.
Standing up from his seat, Tuoba Chen slowly walked towards Rongyue, his face filled with even more sorrow and resentment: "Third sister, do you really dislike me that much?"
Tuoba Chen's expression made Rongyue feel awkward, and she couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Why does he look like a wronged little wife..."
"Mistress!" Tuoba Chen roared angrily, but after shouting, he became uneasy because of his harsh tone, as if afraid that Rong Yue would be angry. He glanced at her furtively and then whispered nervously, "Mistress..."
The plaintive and lingering tone made Rongyue tremble. Her face twitched slightly, and Rongyue said awkwardly, "Could you please not talk to me in that tone..."
"You...you despise me that much? I don't ask for anything else, I just want to stand quietly in the distance and watch you, that would be enough for me. Is it possible that you won't even grant me this humble hope?" With bitterness in his starry eyes, Tuoba Chen stepped forward and took Rongyue's arm, looking dejected and anxious.
"Your Highness the Second Prince..."
"You mistress, you...you don't consider me a friend anymore?"
"How could this be..."
"I'm not good enough for you, am I?"
"ah?"
"You heartless mistress!"
A dark line instantly appeared on her face. With a gloomy expression, Rongyue, unable to contain herself any longer, finally roared, "Speak normally!"
"The mistress..."
"Oh, it seems I've come at a really bad time. I'm truly sorry to have disturbed you two. Shall I step aside and let you continue?" From behind the tent flap, Tuoba Jie lifted the curtain, a half-smile playing on his lips as he lewdly surveyed the two inside.
Completely changing his previous pitiful expression, Tuoba Chen's face was now clouded with gloom, and his icy tone was like a drawn sword: "Get out!"
A fleeting gloom crossed his eyes. He pulled back the curtain, stepped into the tent, and gazed wickedly at the arm resting on Rongyue's: "Their relationship is truly enviable!"
Tuoba Jie's unspoken meaning sent a chill down Rongyue's spine. Pushing away Tuoba Chen's arm, Rongyue stepped forward and lightly punched Tuoba Chen's shoulder with a smile: "What, Prime Minister, are you blaming this general for neglecting you?"
Tuoba Chen paused, his eyes subtly glancing at the spot Rong Yue had touched, before a seductive smile played on his lips: "How could this be?"
Ignoring the sour smell emanating from the vinegar vat beside her, Rongyue smiled at Tuoba Jie: "Prime Minister, have you come to see me for something?"
She raised a brow with her phoenix eyes: "Can't I have a chat with you, the great general, if there's nothing else?"
"What are you saying, Prime Minister? This is a good thing that I could only wish for, how could I not have it? Please take a seat, my lord." Rongyue said respectfully, stretching her hand to her side.
"Little San, that's your seat! How dare a mere military supervisor occupy the general's seat!" Tuoba Chen stretched out his arm, blocking Tuoba Jie's step forward.
Originally not wanting to pay attention to this guy whose mood changed faster than flipping through a book, but worried that the two of them would start arguing again at this critical moment, Rongyue had no choice but to put on a patient word, pull back the troublemaker Tuoba Chen, and glare at him fiercely, meaning: Get out of here!
The moment Tuoba Chen met Rongyue's eyes, his expression turned mournful. Rongyue rolled her eyes helplessly, wondering: Was the arrogant and domineering Second Prince from their first meeting really the same person before her?
A soft cough from someone nearby startled the two from their entangled gazes. Quickly averting her eyes, Rongyue lowered her head to hide her embarrassment: "Please, Your Excellency!"
She didn't lift her foot. After waiting quite a while without seeing the slightest movement from Tuoba Jie, Rongyue looked up in suspicion, only to suddenly meet Tuoba Jie's slightly meaningful phoenix eyes. Those phoenix eyes seemed to shimmer with the sparse stars in the sky, but to Rongyue, the shadow of those stars seemed more distant, more desolate, and more forlorn than the actual stars…
"General, it seems you haven't slept all night. Your eyes are bloodshot. You really need to rest..." For no reason, those bright and intelligent eyes stirred his once-dead heart. He couldn't help but reach out to touch those eyes that broke his peace, but just inches away from them, a slender finger slapped his hand away!
"How dare you touch that mistress with your filthy hands! You've gone too far!" Tuoba Chen glared angrily, his pupils gleaming, his expression suggesting he wished he could tear Tuoba Jie to shreds!
Volume Two: The Resounding Journey Through the Daughter's Chronicle, Chapter Twenty-Six: Schemes
"Your Highness!" Rongyue called out to Tuoba Chen, forcefully pulling him aside. She stepped aside to separate the two. Continuing from Tuoba Jie's words, Rongyue rubbed her sore eyes and joked, "The Prime Minister is absolutely right. If this general doesn't rest soon, I reckon I'll turn into a red-eyed monster by the time I'm done..."
A sharp glint flashed in her phoenix eyes so quickly that Rongyue almost thought she was seeing things.
Calming herself down from the chilling aura that had gripped her, Rongyue pondered her words, trying to figure out which one had offended the enigmatic Prime Minister.
"If I were to delay the general's rest any longer, I would become a sinner of the Southern Kingdom. General, please rest well. I will not disturb you any longer and will take my leave now!" With a polite fist salute, Tuoba Jie's lips curled into a slightly cold smile. His robes fluttered, leaving Rong Yue with a tall and proud figure.
With a furrowed brow, Rongyue tilted her head in deep thought, yet remained utterly perplexed. This man was truly enigmatic—profound, reserved, yet occasionally revealing a ruthless edge that could send chills down one's spine…
Turning to look at Tuoba Chen, who was clearly jealous, Rongyue asked, "Chen, did I just say something I shouldn't have?"
A glint of starlight appeared in Lang's eyes: "Mistress, you've finally agreed to talk to me! Mistress, I..."
"Never mind if I asked." Straightening her robes, Rongyue turned and left the military tent without raising her eyes.
Standing there, Tuoba Chen gazed in the direction where Rong Yue had disappeared, his eyes fixed on her for a long time. Jian Xiaosan, you will definitely be mine. I am determined to have you! And getting you is only a matter of time…
With a gentle smile, her jade-like face was bathed in the soft glow of starlight and moonlight. She gracefully flicked the dust from her clothes with her fingertips, then stepped out of the military tent…
At the dead of night, when people are sound asleep, the night is quiet and the darkness is deep. The mountain is completely silent, but below the mountain, people are bustling about, their shadows swaying in the wind.
Holding a drumstick, Rongyue raised an eyebrow at the massive, eager army and chuckled, "Have you all had enough sleep?"
"It's complete!"