Chapter 244: Short Letter, Deep Affection

Chapter 244: Brief Words, Deep Affection

Later in the letter, the tone abruptly shifted, vividly describing how he had uncovered the villain's scheme at Pingzhou Post, and how he led Ling Feng and others to escape from the blaze with quick thinking.

He let his words run wild, praising himself extravagantly—words like perceptive, unflappable, wise and heroic...

He heaped them on himself without restraint, as if writing a heroic epic.

But Cui Ji's heart clenched all the same as he read, knowing he was safe now.

Yet remembering how dangerous that suspicious fire was, his fingers gripping the letter paper unconsciously tightened.

The letter was long and effusive, as if he had endless things to say.

However, toward the end, the handwriting gradually changed.

At first, it was neat and powerful running script, but later the strokes became somewhat sloppy, and the spacing between characters grew denser.

Especially on the last few pages, the characters got noticeably smaller, lines crowded together.

Squeezing more content into the limited space, so dense it nearly spilled off the edges of the paper.

Cui Ji could even see, through this increasingly cramped handwriting, the writer struggling to stay awake late at night, eyelids drooping, yet still couldn't bring himself to stop writing.

His gaze lingered long on those final tightly packed lines, his fingertips gently tracing the dense ink marks.

Outside the tent, the wind howled mournfully; inside, it was utterly still, save for the occasional crackle of the candlewick.

Cui Ji's cold, stern features completely softened under the dim yellow light, a mix of indescribable tenderness and warmth surged through him.

He slowly reached inside his shirt, carefully pulling out a jade pendant tied with a red string.

It glowed with a soft luster in the candlelight; his fingertips gently traced the jade surface.

The tent flap was gently lifted, and Zhao Cheng entered carrying some military documents.

He glanced at Cui Ji, who was staring intently at the object in his palm, a rare soft look on his face.

Zhao Cheng paused. For the general to show such a goofy look, only that princess could make him look like that.

He recalled the rumors in the army that the princess was pregnant, and even that it was twins.

Seeing Cui Ji so radiant... could it be that the princess had already given birth?

The more Zhao Cheng thought, the more likely it seemed. Joy surged within him, but he didn't dare disturb. He cleared his throat softly.

Hearing the sound, Cui Ji slowly put the jade pendant away. When he looked up again, his face had returned to its usual deadpan expression.

"General," Zhao Cheng stepped forward, placed the documents on the table, and respectfully reported.

"General Zhou sent word that recently Western Rong scouts have been more active than usual, and they seem to be secretly assembling troops. There may be unusual movements, with ill intentions."

Cui Ji's gaze sharpened. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said in a deep voice, "Understood. Send orders to General Zhou to send more scouts and closely monitor Western Rong movements.

All units shall strengthen vigilance. Do not act rashly without confirmed intelligence. Be ready to engage the enemy at all times."

"Yes!" Zhao Cheng acknowledged, seeing no further instructions, bowed, and exited the tent.

The tent went quiet again. Cui Ji sat still for a moment, his gaze once again sweeping over the thick stack of letter paper on the table.

A complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He reached for a fresh stack of letter paper, ground ink and moistened the brush, and began to write at the table.

Until late in the night, when stars filled the sky beyond the tent, he finally stopped writing.

A thick stack of letter paper now lay in front of him. He carefully folded the letters and placed them into a larger envelope.

Then, from a locked wooden box beneath the table, he took out a large stack of banknotes and carefully tucked them between the pages.

As he moved, the image of the letter's sender eating honeyed plums seemed to appear before his eyes. The corner of his stern mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

He raised a hand and beckoned. A shadowy figure appeared silently in the tent like a wraith.

Cui Ji handed over the sealed letter. The shadow guard received it, tucked it inside his clothes, and vanished into the night beyond the tent.

Cui Ji sat alone in the tent. The candlelight stretched his shadow long across the ground.

He stared at the flickering flame, his eyes as if piercing through the tent, over thousands of miles.

---

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Cheng Ge had just eaten lunch. His concubines helped him rinse his mouth, and he was about to take a short nap on the couch.

Wufeng silently entered and said in a low voice, "They're heading to that room. Looks like they've got important stuff to discuss."

Cheng Ge's eyelids lifted slightly, his drowsiness instantly vanishing.

Although he had risen to the position of Fourth Chief of the Axe Gang, he spent his days eating and lazing around, never touching any core business.

Hearing that they were about to do something, Cheng Ge urged, "Quick, push me over there."

Wufeng pushed the wheelchair to a secluded building behind the Assembly Hall.

Two of White Brow's trusted men stood guard at the door, their faces cold and hard. As Cheng Ge's wheelchair reached the door, sure enough, someone stretched out an arm to block him.

"Fourth Chief, please stop. The three chiefs are discussing important matters inside and ordered that no one may disturb."

One of them spoke with a tone still respectful, but his stance left no room for negotiation.

Cheng Ge sat in the wheelchair, looked up at the man, his expression suddenly darkened, a sharp glint in his eyes.

The man blocking him was startled by this sudden look, instinctively stepping back half a step.

Just then, the people inside heard the commotion at the door. Lei Biao's rough voice rang out: "What's going on outside?"

Footsteps sounded, and Lei Biao, White Brow, and Xiong Meng walked out of the inner room.

Cheng Ge immediately concealed all sharpness and put on an aggrieved, puzzled look.

He looked up at the three, especially Lei Biao, his voice sounded weak and hoarse.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother... I heard you were discussing something here, thought I might be able to help, so I came over. Didn't expect..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men who had blocked him, the unfinished words, full of disappointment.