With a hardening of her resolve, Feng Jin turned her back, lowering her head as much as possible, and said in a hushed voice, "Greetings, Young General. This subordinate is a soldier from the West Camp and will return now."
With that, Feng Jin took off running, deciding that retreat was the best strategy. Survival first, everything else later.
"Stop!" Ling Mo Han's stern command made Feng Jin freeze in her tracks. Her foot, already in motion, hovered uncertainly, unsure whether to retract it.
Ling Mo Han rode his horse to the person's side, attempting to get a clear look at who it was.
Feng Jin seemed to be playing a game of hide-and-seek with Ling Mo Han. Wherever Ling Mo Han looked, she would turn her head in the opposite direction, refusing to meet his gaze.
The man's patience wore thin. He drew his sword and pointed it directly at her, "Lift your head!"
Lu Shi couldn't help but feel a bead of sweat trickle down his temple, as if he could already foresee the Young General's impending consequences.
The sharp edge of the sword pointed directly at Feng Jin, terrifying her into swallowing hard. "Has Ling Mo Han gone truly mad? Does he intend to kill me?"
"Lift your head!" Ling Mo Han impatiently repeated.
Feng Jin took a deep breath and slowly raised her head. Their eyes met, and Ling Mo Han froze, momentarily stunned, nearly dropping the sword in his hand.
"You... what are you doing here?"
"If the Young General can be here, why can't I?" Feng Jin retorted, unafraid.
Ling Mo Han's expression darkened further. He shot a glare at Lu Shi, vowing to settle accounts with him later.
He directly pulled Feng Jin onto his horse. "Lu Shi, lead the army onward."
"Yes, Young General."
Then, Ling Mo Han rode off in the opposite direction with Feng Jin.
"Let me down..." Feng Jin shouted loudly, but the man remained unmoved. Helpless, Feng Jin resorted to her ultimate move, reaching out and applying strong pressure to Ling Mo Han's waist.
The man winced in pain, his brow furrowed, and he stopped abruptly. Feng Jin seized the opportunity and jumped off.
"Are you trying to murder your own husband!"
Ling Mo Han rubbed his aching waist, realizing how ruthless her hand had been.
"But you were pointing that broken sword at me earlier! You were the one trying to kill me, Young General Ling!"
Thinking of his arrogant demeanor just moments ago, Feng Jin's anger boiled over.
He was so arrogant before, yet now he was speechless.
Ling Mo Han cleared his throat and changed the subject, shifting his gaze. "Didn't I tell you not to follow? Did you really take my words as wind? This path is full of rebels, extremely perilous. Your presence beside me will distract me, and I fear I won't be able to look after you."
"I don't need you to look after me. I can protect myself. You go ahead and tend to your business."
Feng Jin stepped forward and took the man's hand, speaking earnestly. "Since I've made up my mind, whether it's fortune or misfortune, disaster or hardship, I want to face it all with you. I only ask that you don't leave me to worry alone."
A soft, tender spot in Ling Mo Han's heart was touched. It was a lie to say he wasn't moved. He reached out and pulled Feng Jin into his embrace.
"I'm just worried you'll be in danger. If anything were to happen to you, it would be like losing my own life. I value you more than my own life. Do you understand?"
Feng Jin buried her head in his chest and nodded solemnly. "I understand. That's precisely why I want to be by your side at all times. Please don't send me away. I promise to obey you and not cause any trouble."
After some hesitation, Ling Mo Han finally agreed with a nod. "Alright... but you must pretend to be a soldier and stay by my side. You are not allowed to wander off without my permission."
To be allowed to stay, Feng Jin readily agreed to all of Ling Mo Han's demands.
Upon returning to the military camp, Feng Jin was directly pulled into the main tent by Ling Mo Han.
"Let go of me. Someone will come in soon."
Feng Jin, seated on the man's lap, kept pushing against him. "This is a military camp, can't you be more mindful?"
"Stop wriggling. I'm holding my wife. Who dares to say a word!" Ling Mo Han declared with righteous indignation, leaving Feng Jin speechless.
"Ling Mo Han... I need to talk to you..."
Gu Bei Chen walked into the tent and saw Ling Mo Han embracing a man in a very intimate manner. He froze for a moment, then, regaining his composure, he quickly turned his head away. "I saw nothing. Don't worry, I will absolutely not reveal your peculiar preference, nor will I let Feng Jin know!"
To prevent Ling Mo Han from impulsively killing him, Gu Bei Chen repeatedly assured him he wouldn't let slip a word.
Feng Jin's face flushed with embarrassment. She punched the man lightly, blaming him for her humiliation.
But what did Gu Bei Chen mean by "don't let her know"?
"Why shouldn't I know?"
Gu Bei Chen blurted out without thinking, "If you found out Ling Mo Han was fooling around behind your back, and with another man, you'd probably..."
Halfway through his sentence, Gu Bei Chen realized something was amiss. The voice sounded so familiar, it seemed like...
To confirm his suspicion, Gu Bei Chen quickly turned around. Upon seeing who it was, the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"What are you doing here?"
"What, only you are allowed to be here and not me?" Feng Jin asked, her tone remarkably flat. She then pressed on, "You seem quite adept at covering for him. I assume this isn't the first or second time you two have been up to this..."
Feng Jin's gaze, carrying a hint of threat, flickered back and forth between the two of them.
Gu Bei Chen turned his head away, avoiding her gaze. "I just remembered I have something to do. I'll be going now."
"You stop right there!"
Before Feng Jin's angry shout had even finished, Gu Bei Chen had vanished without a trace.
"Ling Mo Han, tell me, is there something you're hiding from me?"
"No."
"I don't believe you. Tell me the truth!"
"There really isn't."
Ling Mo Han said helplessly. How did this involve him again?
Feng Jin's probing gaze swept over him. She hadn't forgotten how popular Ling Mo Han was among noble ladies, with thousands eager to marry him.
With such warmth and softness offered to him, who knew if he could resist and secretly keep a mistress.
"Tell me, have you taken a concubine!"
"Truly not. If I'm lying, may lightning strike me."
*CRACK!* A clap of thunder accompanied by a flash of lightning.
Ling Mo Han froze. This was too coincidental!
"See? Even heaven can't stand it and is about to strike you with lightning. You're definitely keeping someone on the outside!"
Feng Jin adamantly concluded that Ling Mo Han had someone else, glaring fiercely at him before turning and leaving in anger.
"I..."
Ling Mo Han's mouth hung slightly ajar. He was truly in a situation where he couldn't clear his name, even if he jumped into the Yellow River. He quickly got up and hurried to chase after Feng Jin.
"Listen to me, I really haven't..."