Chapter 3.1

Because of his one sentence, Du Bingyan had been staying in the general’s tent for the past three days, barely daring to blink. The past three days and nights were critical, as Yuan Buqu was in a dangerous period of high fever and unconsciousness. Due to the lingering poison in his body, he would alternate between feeling hot and cold. She had long forgotten about being discreet and spent her days wiping his body and applying medicine. Whenever Feng Yufeng came to change the medicine, the bitter pills he administered were unbearable. She couldn’t pry open his mouth to make him drink them! Fortunately, during the few times he was somewhat conscious, he would cooperate and swallow the medicine. Since he was the marshal, it was crucial for him to recover quickly. Although he looked very skeptical about the medicine, believing it contained ten pounds of Coptis, he didn’t complain. However, when he was delirious, it was another story! His body would instinctively reject the bitter medicine.

He was like a child in this regard! Unfortunately, no one could provide her with sweet syrup or anything to make it easier. Recently, she had learned that if a doctor failed to help the general recover within the expected time, they could be executed! Even failing to make him finish the medicine was a crime! Du Bingyan felt her situation was worsening, but she hoped for Yuan Buqu’s swift recovery from any perspective. She had been in the camp for so long, and her own tasks were continuously postponed. She was worried that her true nature was starting to show! Maybe pretending to be a man had given her too much freedom, and her past submissiveness was gradually disappearing!

But… why was her heart not anxious at all? It seemed she didn’t really want to return everything to normal and go back to Yangzhou and then to Quanzhou, did she?

No! She couldn’t indulge her own whims; she had no autonomy! As long as her surname was Du, she couldn’t bring shame to her family!

Looking at the freshly brewed medicine, she sighed. Yuan Buqu was still asleep, but if she didn’t make him drink it, how would she explain it when the soldiers came to collect the bowl later?

She picked up the bowl and moved to sit by the edge of the bed.

Even with a bit of stubble, disheveled clothes, and a pale complexion, he was still irresistibly attractive, and his aura was undeniable.

Over the past few days, she found herself shamefully admiring his robust, powerful physique. She had always disliked strong, muscular men! Oh! It was truly shameless! His body was twice as large as hers, with an arm the same size as her waist. Men… really are different from women. Even their hair is coarse and prickly.

This Yuan Buqu… was nothing like the way Li Yuhu had described him, nor as she had imagined him. Instead, he was… a tragic figure who shook her heart! His body bore many severe scars, which Feng Yufeng said almost cost him his life. His palms were covered in rough, calloused skin, twice the size of her hands, showing that he had endured a lot of suffering and had worked hard. Could such a strong and weathered man be the one who cruelly killed his two wives? Yet there was no trace of brutality in his eyes, only a deep, hidden emotion and a hint of cynical mockery.

Ah… it wasn’t her concern!

“General! General! It’s time for your medicine.” She had cooled the medicine and was gently shaking his uninjured right shoulder. The direct contact with his smooth, bare skin still made her heart flutter and feel shy. On some level, their interaction had taken on an intimate quality, and she was acutely aware of this.

He did not wake up. She checked his forehead; his temperature was normal. He should be out of immediate danger today. If he were in good condition, he should be more alert and not sleeping so deeply! Had she given him too much medicine last night? Or… she thought with a wry smile: could it be that the medicine was so bitter that he was pretending to be asleep to avoid it? Unable to resist, she took a secret sip of the medicine, and its bitterness nearly made her cry out. She quickly stuck out her tongue, her little face scrunched up! Heaven! It was even more bitter than before, definitely like it had ten pounds of Coptis in it!

So bitter! Fortunately, no one saw her; otherwise, she would be utterly embarrassed! Her behavior had become increasingly odd since she had been pretending to be a man…

“Wow!” She let out a soft exclamation as she nearly dropped the bowl in her hands. Fortunately, Yuan Buqu caught it in time!

She hadn’t noticed when Yuan Buqu had opened his eyes and was watching her. Oh no! Had he seen her sneaking a taste of the medicine?

Yuan Buqu drank all the medicine and then handed the bowl back to her, placing his hand on her chin and holding it.

“There’s still some medicine on your lips,” he said, leaning towards her.

When his tongue lightly licked the medicine from her lips, Du Bingyan froze! She then quickly jumped back, leaning against the washbasin by the bed. Covering her face with her hands did nothing to hide her deep blush and embarrassment. What… what was he doing to her? How could this be?

Clearly, Yuan Buqu found her discomfort and embarrassment incredibly interesting. He sat up slightly, crossing his arms over his chest, and squinted at her.

“Has anyone figured out your true identity as a woman?” he asked.

“Only you,” she replied.

“Why did you come here? And is your claim of being the general’s wife a desperate excuse or something else?” His tone was mild, slightly weakened from his illness, yet still powerful, carrying a sense of authority and solemnity that seemed meant not to intimidate her. But such a forceful interrogation would scare anyone, let alone her!

Meeting Yuan Buqu made her realize how much her actions had violated the law and military regulations. Yuan Buqu’s restraint in not immediately executing her was a sign of leniency! She said quietly, “I—”

Before she could fully explain, Sha Pingwei barged in recklessly! The conversation failed again.

Sha Pingwei assumed Yuan Buqu was still asleep and entered with a tea tray in his hands.

“Du Bing, come quickly! I found a small jar of honey in the city, which you can mix with the medicine for General Yuan. Also, there are honey melons brought in by fast horses from Qiyue City—rare fruits you can’t find in Jiangnan. Come quickly—it’s really delicious.” He handed the items to Du Bingyan, patting her shoulder in a big-brotherly manner.

“Thank you, Brother Sha, for your kindness. I am grateful,” Du Bingyan said.

Du Bingyan subtly moved away from Sha Pingwei, fearing that she might leave an improper impression in front of Yuan Buqu. She didn’t want him to form any negative opinions about her, especially knowing she was a woman. She needed to maintain a respectful distance from any man to uphold her dignity…

“Do you like it? Eat quickly! The taste will diminish if left too long. You’ve been working hard for three days, so go rest for a while. I’ll keep an eye on the general. Don’t worry; the general is doing very well. He should be able to get up and handle official business today.”

“Pingwei!” Yuan Buqu called out. This guy often gets carried away, speaking out of turn and forgetting others’ presence! Yuan Buqu disliked Sha Pingwei’s familiarity with Du Bingyan intensely.

“Oh! brother Yuan, you’re awake? Have you taken your medicine? If you’re fine, let Du Bing go rest! Her face, as delicate as a hibiscus, looks like it’s about to wilt—what a pity!” For Sha Pingwei, admiring beauty was a pleasure, and he didn’t care whether Du Bingyan was a man or woman; his sympathy naturally arose. Natural beauty deserved to be cherished and preserved.

“The one who needs to rest is your mouth!” Yuan Buqu lightly chided, then turned his gaze back to Du Bingyan, thinking for a moment before saying, “You should go rest. Come back in the evening to help me with my meal.”

“Yes!” Du Bingyan fled quickly.

It wasn’t until she returned to the pharmacy’s back room, her original residence, that she could finally catch her breath. She looked at her flushed face in the copper mirror, feeling mortified by her own appearance. It was still as red as if she were drunk.

Does Yuan Buqu treat all women so flippantly? Or does he regard her as nothing more than a camp follower? How could such a fearsome and burly man provoke her feelings with such delicate gestures? He licked her lips! Oh heavens! How is she supposed to face him next?

She is Du Bingyan, the well-regarded daughter of the Du family from Yangzhou, not some rural village girl who can be subjected to flirtation and improper behavior. Does he always treat women this way?

During her journey from Chang’an to Liangma City, she encountered many bizarre and unexpected things, far beyond her imagination. Her upbringing had not prepared her for such situations! Beyond the borders of the Northwest, in sparsely populated areas, where people gathered infrequently, women had trouble finding husbands, and men struggled to find wives. In such places, where poverty is widespread and people contend with meager farmland and harsh conditions, issues of chastity are irrelevant. To fill their stomachs, widows quickly join forces with other lonely men. When a brother dies, his younger sibling takes in his widow and children. Such situations are shockingly unconventional to her! Not to mention that hospitable shepherds offer their wives to guests! Du Bingyan had once been so frightened she hid in her carriage for the night. Later, Feng Yufeng humorously explained that many poor people outside the borders had a reverence for those from inside and hoped to gain prosperity through “borrowing seed,” so they didn’t mind their wives sleeping with guests. Seeing Du Bingyan’s handsome and elegant appearance, dressed in fine attire, they assumed she was a favored young master from a wealthy family! Hence, they expected her to share a bed with them. If they could get a “rich seed,” their future generations would be prosperous and no longer have to toil on meager land.

As she traveled, Du Bingyan’s initial shock turned into tolerance and understanding. In such places where survival is the sole goal, how could she despise them using her Yangzhou standards? However, she could not accept how some girls in rural inns flirted with passing customers. With no suitable men nearby, they used indulgent behavior to attract businessmen and soldiers, hoping one would take them to the capital to live as a wealthy wife. These girls were naively unaware, and shamefully, the men exploited their innocent attitudes for free indulgence! After taking their pleasure, they left behind some worthless flower petals or coins and walked away, perhaps leaving behind a child and never returning. After one man and then another, some village girls resigned themselves to marry old, unsuitable men, abandoning their dreams of the capital. Others completely surrendered, flaunting themselves to passing merchants and travelers! The debauchery of one generation became the example for the next. Du Bingyan had almost been teased by a village girl and her mother in a roadside inn because of her rare beauty, like a carved jade!

It turns out that even being a man has its dangers!

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