Chapter 2.2

With him, getting into the army would be easy! And seeing Yuan Buqu shouldn’t be too hard either, right?

It seemed Feng Yufeng had figured out her intentions, but considerately, he didn’t press her. Instead, he said gently, “You’re a good kid—hardworking and diligent. Why don’t you become my apprentice? I’m sure the army could use more medical talent.”

War—such a distant and terrifying word! A world of bloodshed, screaming, and death that was chilling even to imagine. Soon, she would witness it herself. And that legendary general who had achieved such great feats on the battlefield, that man who had lived so long in the midst of slaughter—what kind of person would he be?

Every time she thought of this, an instinctive shiver ran through her. But that wasn’t her concern! Once the truth was revealed, Li Yuhu would be his real wife, and she would return to the Qi family to live as a widow. Yes, whether Yuan Buqu was cruel or not was none of her concern. She didn’t need to fear it!

“If nothing unexpected happens, we should reach Liangma City before nightfall.”

“What? So soon?” She had thought they would never reach Liangma City, yet now it seemed they would arrive by nightfall! Her heart skipped a beat, filled with a touch of unease.

Feng Yufeng chuckled, unable to resist glancing back at her youthful, extraordinarily handsome face. What a beautiful face! If only she weren’t disguised as a man—who knows how stunning she would be!

“The world is vast. Just a few days ago, you were asking if we’d reached the end of it. The world has no end, but every journey has a destination. Liangma City is close by—the only large city in Ganzhou, a key military stronghold where 100,000 Eagle Army soldiers are currently stationed. You can imagine how imposing it must be.”

“Yes, seeing so many warriors in armor is enough to make anyone tremble with fear!” She lifted the edge of her cloak, allowing her eyes to see farther. The oppressive heat made her sweat profusely. How much endurance did one need to survive in a place like this?

“You’ll get used to it soon enough. The Eagle Army is famous for its strict discipline—they won’t bully or plunder the people. That’s why, as soon as the court summoned me, I set off immediately! It’s an honor to work alongside the mighty General Yuan.”

From Feng Yufeng’s words, Du Bingyan could sense his deep admiration for the renowned General Yuan. But in her mind, a military man was just a brute—coarse and ruthless, killing without hesitation, unworthy of any admiration.

“I just hope the war ends soon. After all, killing is barbaric. I’ve studied medicine and don’t want to spend my life amidst bloodshed and violence.”

She looked toward the sky. The scorching heat had left not a single cloud, and there wasn’t the slightest breeze. The air felt so thick it was hard to breathe. Her clothes, soaked with sweat, dried quickly in the sun. Sweat dripped down her temples, evaporating before it could hit the yellow sand! Oh, this grueling heat that drained the spirit! She had survived all these days through sheer willpower. Though her body wasn’t strong, her resilience was unbreakable. Of course, having Feng Yufeng as a companion and guide provided great comfort.

“You hate war, yet you insist on coming to Liangma City. I still don’t understand your reason.”

“I’m looking for someone,” she replied, feeling a bit guilty and lowering her head. Of course, she couldn’t say she was looking for the husband she had mistakenly married. That would be too absurd for anyone to comprehend! If she couldn’t explain herself properly, people would think she was crazy! Besides, she was still disguised as a man. Feng Yufeng was a kind and reasonable man, but now wasn’t the right time for her to reveal the truth.

Luckily, he wasn’t the type to press for answers. He just smiled, noticing his reluctance to continue, and changed the topic: “Yangzhou is a place rich in culture and talent, with beautiful landscapes. No wonder a fine young man like you, with such grace and charm, hails from there! One day, when the war is over, I should visit and broaden my horizons.”

“You flatter me, Brother Feng. If you ever visit Yangzhou, I will surely be a generous host. I guarantee you’ll be amazed, although my humble appearance is not worth boasting about,” he replied modestly.

Feng’s continual compliments about his appearance made Du Bingyan uneasy. However, it was fortunate that most people viewed men from the Jiangnan region as delicate and beautiful, making it hard to tell if they were male or female. After all, in ancient times, there were figures like Song Yu and Dong Xian, men so beautiful they made women pale in comparison. Therefore, Feng Yufeng, who had never visited Jiangnan, had no suspicion about her “female appearance in a male body.”

As they talked and walked, time passed quickly. Just as Feng Yufeng had predicted, when the sun began to set, they could see a distant city on the horizon, with the banners of the Tang dynasty fluttering above it. They had finally arrived at Liangma City!

The exhaustion of the twenty-day journey was replaced by a new emotion—one of nervousness, mixed with anticipation. Although she had constantly reminded herself that Yuan Buqu was Li Yuhu’s husband and had nothing to do with her, she couldn’t deny the uneasy feeling in her heart. It wasn’t the carefree detachment of an outsider. In fact, it almost seemed as though she was viewing Yuan Buqu as her own husband, with a hint of expectation and a bit of fear. She was anxious to see what he looked like…

Whether Yuan Buqu was good or bad had nothing to do with her. However, if he refused to understand the situation and insisted on punishing everyone involved, what would she do? She was terrified that things wouldn’t turn out well. He probably already knew what had happened at the General’s residence. One could imagine how the steward, Li, must have painted her in a bad light! Yuan Buqu was likely furious—after all, how humiliating is it for a wife to run away! Could she really just walk up to him and explain everything? What would happen if he didn’t forgive her? Perhaps it would be wiser to observe his character before making any decisions. Wouldn’t that be more prudent?

Her heart was filled with panic, and she had no clear plan. In any case, she had no way to retreat! On top of that, her money was almost gone, so even if she wanted to turn back, she couldn’t. In desperation, she had taken a jade token from the General’s residence. It was an official seal that Yuan Buqu had left in his study. She didn’t plan to pawn it for money, nor did she intend to use it to gain power. After all, despite her mistaken marriage into the Yuan family, her current identity was indeed that of Yuan Buqu’s wife. Taking a jade token wasn’t considered theft, yet it still left a shadow on her heart. She only took it so that when she finally faced Yuan Buqu, she’d have something to prove her identity as a member of his household. Otherwise, there were plenty of priceless treasures in the new bridal chamber, none of which she touched. All her travel expenses had come from pawning her personal jewelry. Li Yuhu’s dowry was pitifully meager, consisting only of a few sets of gender-neutral clothing, allowing her to disguise herself as a man. This also further proved Li Shengming’s stinginess. Though he had demanded 5,000 taels of gold and silver from the General’s residence, there wasn’t a single valuable item in the ten dowry boxes. No wonder the entire General’s household was displeased with the Li family. It was likely that this was the reason Yuan Buqu harbored such resentment toward Li Yuhu…

When she and Li Yuhu finally switched back to their rightful places, would that cheerful, lively girl face heartless torment? Would her bright spirit be extinguished by misery, leading to her eventual death? Unwittingly, Du Bingyan felt a sense of guilt rising within her. She bit her lip tightly. No matter what she did, it seemed like two tragedies were already in the making. And here she was, worrying about that laughing girl’s future! But what about her own? What good could come of it for her? Ah… when would she start thinking more about herself? She wanted to help others, but was powerless to do so. All she could do was worry. She could barely take care of herself, and if she couldn’t resolve this matter smoothly, the consequences would be unimaginable…

“Look! Someone’s coming to meet us!”

Feng Yufeng’s voice snapped Du Bingyan back to reality. She looked up in surprise to see three riders galloping toward them from the northern gate.

The riders wore black jackets, iron-gray armor draped over their shoulders, and a cross-shaped chest plate. Their circular chest guards gleamed in the setting sun, and their bright red cloaks billowed in the desert wind. Their posture was commanding and dignified. The eagle-head designs on their shoulder guards clearly marked them as members of the Eagle Army—renowned and praised by all!

Even Du Bingyan, who had always held a dislike for soldiers, had to admit that these warriors exuded an imposing aura worthy of respect.

The three riders skillfully reined in their horses before them. The leader, a man with a cheerful face, called out to Feng Yufeng, “Old Feng! You’ve finally arrived! I thought you’d decided to roam the world as a free spirit and never show up again! The court must’ve put in a lot of effort to find you this time, huh? The brothers are in for a treat!”

“Not at all! Not at all!” Feng Yufeng clasped his hands in greeting. “I’m honored that Commander Sha came out to greet us personally. I’m truly flattered!”

His response was met with hearty laughter from the cheerful man. It was clear that he loved to laugh.

“No need to be so formal, Old Feng! We’ve worked together for a long time! There’s no need for all this politeness! If you want someone to recite fancy words, go find my father! He’s bored stiff over there! When you were ten miles out, a messenger pigeon reported your arrival, so I figured you’d be here soon. But to my surprise, you were running late—seems like you’re getting old!”

Feng Yufeng laughed, “Don’t pity these old bones of mine; I’ve got to consider my young apprentice’s well-being! He’s a delicate scholar from Jiangnan, not as tough as you iron-blooded giants! Let me introduce you. This is Du Bing, an eighteen-year-old scholar. Du Bing, this is Commander Sha Pingwei, the top general of the Yuan family army! His father, Sha Shao, is the foremost strategist in the court.”

“Commander Sha,” she greeted, bowing and clasping her hands, only to meet Sha Pingwei’s unabashedly admiring gaze.

“Wow! Du Bing, what a waste for someone like you to be born a man!” Sha Pingwei finally exclaimed, his bluntness catching her off guard. He moved his horse closer, his eyes wide, as he examined her flawless skin.

Du Bingyan was so embarrassed that she didn’t know how to respond. How could a commander behave like a child? She liked his straightforward nature but found it hard to believe that someone like him could be a military leader! His two subordinates looked much more dignified behind him.

“Alright, Pingwei, don’t scare the kid! Your father always says if you had half the composure of General Yuan, you’d be able to lead on your own!” Sha Pingwei waved his hand dismissively.

“On the battlefield, I stay calm and focused. If I wear a stern face all the time, it would be too intimidating! Brother Yuan is beyond help with his natural sense of authority. As for me, let’s not talk about it!” He glanced at the sky. “Let’s hurry into the city! Brother Yuan expected you to arrive two days ago. Yesterday, there was a small skirmish between the two armies, and fifty or so of our men were injured to varying degrees. Brother Yuan called the seven doctors useless and has been anxiously waiting for you to come and handle things properly.”

“Don’t scare the kid, Pingwei,” the other person said, scolding Sha Pingwei for his exaggerations.

Pingwei laughed and started leading the horse forward. “It’s good to let him get used to things. Otherwise, he’d lose half his life just by seeing the general. The general’s reputation is well earned; don’t expect him to be kind and approachable.”

So Yuan Buqu really is a fearsome person?

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