Chapter 318 The Princess Consort?

Chapter 318: The General's Wife?

The Shanyue Tribe, bordering the Northern Di, was known for its sinister methods and expertise in taming venomous snakes.

Cui Ji's head snapped up, his gaze fixed toward the main camp, eyes narrowing.

"Wang Meng! Immediately tally the casualties, leave two squads behind to clean up the battlefield and thoroughly search the bodies for any clues! The rest of you, including your unit, follow me at once at full speed back to reinforce the main camp!"

Zhao Meng, seeing Cui Ji's grim expression, knew something major had happened. He immediately clasped his fists: "Yes, sir!"

Cui Ji said nothing more, turned, and strode toward his warhorse, his dark cloak sweeping a sharp arc behind him.

He mounted in one fluid motion, pulled the reins as the horse reared, and galloped off toward the main camp.

………

"Someone as outstanding as me, should have lived a brilliant life..." Cheng Ge hummed a tune under his breath, stepping lightly onto the main camp's city wall.

The wall was brightly lit under the night sky, with sentries patrolling and standing guard in orderly fashion.

Zhao Cheng stood with his back to him, carefully inspecting the defensive arrangements between the battlements, speaking in a low voice to his adjutant beside him.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Zhao Cheng instinctively turned around—

Zhao Cheng: "!?!?"

Why is the General's Wife here? Could it be that she's come on behalf of the general to inspect the work?

Zhao Cheng was stunned for a moment before snapping back to his senses, his eyes slightly widening beneath the brim of his helmet.

He was about to clasp his fists in salute, but Cheng Ge stepped forward and spoke first.

"You must be General Zhao Cheng, right? You're really handsome and impressive."

Zhao Cheng opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his cheeks flushed visibly red.

Embarrassed, he raised his hand, pretending to smooth his hair as he tucked loose strands back under his helmet.

Seeing that he had broken the ice, Cheng Ge's smile widened as he reached out and patted his shoulder.

"Your general asked me to come and learn from you. I hope you don't mind, General Zhao."

Zhao Cheng: "???" This... the General's Wife? Coming to learn from him?

"I... General..."

But before Zhao Cheng could finish, a scout rushed up the city wall, his voice urgent.

"Report! General Zhao, enemy vanguard cavalry spotted to the northeast!"

Zhao Cheng's expression instantly hardened, and he turned sharply, striding toward the edge of the wall.

"Enemy strength? Any infantry following? Who leads them?" He spoke rapidly, his questions cutting straight to the core.

The scout, still catching his breath, reported hastily, barely concealing his tension.

"Sir! The commander is Urkhan, and Wuliji leads the vanguard! At least eight thousand cavalry, with infantry following—numbers unknown."

Urkhan?! Wuliji?! These two names made his heart sink like a stone.

Urkhan was the most beloved youngest son of the Khan of the Northern Di—young but already infamous for his ferocity!

Arrogant and overbearing, he relied on his status and extraordinary martial skill to look down on just about everyone.

Wuliji was the acknowledged foremost warrior of the Northern Di, with terrifying brute strength and unmatched bravery—even Cui Ji had come out on the losing end against him.

With him leading the vanguard, ordinary commanders and defensive lines would likely crumble under his thunderous assault.

And now these two were attacking together, and right at the critical moment when Cui Ji was away at the Mingshui Swamp.

To say there was nothing fishy going on—even a dog wouldn't buy it. Zhao Cheng quickly pulled himself together and ordered:

"Scout again! I need the infantry's exact type and numbers! Herald!"

"Here!"

"Immediately relay the order: all crossbowmen take positions, prepare for a three-stage volley.

Stockpile boulders and rolling logs along the northeast wall. Have the sword-and-shield troops wait below the wall, ready to climb up and reinforce at a moment's notice.

Pull back all mounted scouts. Use the outer trenches and caltrops to slow the enemy down. Use whistling arrows for signals—don't get drawn into extended combat!"

"Understood!"

Having swiftly deployed his forces, Zhao Cheng whirled around and looked at Cheng Ge, who was still standing there.

He cupped his fists and spoke quickly: "General's Wife! The situation is dire—I need to get to the front lines right now. I'll take my leave!"

With that, he gave Cheng Ge no chance to react, whipping his head around.

He barked orders to the two personal guards right behind him, his voice brooking no argument:

"You two, guard the General's Wife with your lives. If any harm comes to them, you'll answer for it!"

The two guards acknowledged solemnly: "Yes, General!"

Cheng Ge: "???!" What the—?! General's Wife?! Me?!

In disbelief, he turned his head to look at the nearest soldier, pointing at himself.

"He... he just called me... General's Wife? Me?"

The two guards assigned to protect him were confused by Cheng Ge's reaction.

They exchanged bewildered glances—was there some problem?

Could it be... the General's Wife doesn't like being called "General's Wife"? Thinks it's not grand enough?

The enemy's hoofbeats below the wall pounded like war drums urging death, drawing closer and closer.

But at this moment, a strange bubble of silence seemed to envelop Cheng Ge.

He stared at the two soldiers, his scorching gaze nearly burning holes into their faces.

As if an eternity had passed—

Finally, one of the younger personal guards, under Cheng Ge's death-glare that clearly said "if you don't explain yourself, we're all going down together,"

instinctively swallowed hard, glanced up at Cheng Ge, and ventured hesitantly.

"Then... the Prince Consort?"

Cheng Ge: "..."

That single word "Prince Consort" struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, landing squarely on the top of Cheng Ge's head.

He froze completely, his mouth hanging open in an O, as if he could hear the sound of his worldview shattering into dust.

So... "General's Wife" wasn't enough? Now he's been upgraded to Prince Consort?!

His whole world came crashing down in that instant.

Leaving only those two gleaming golden words—"Prince Consort"—spinning wildly in his head.

What the hell is this?! Whose prince consort has a dick like him?! Huh?!

He took a deep breath, trying to hold his crumbling sanity together.

He forced the words out through gritted teeth, voice shaking: "Who... who the hell told you to call me that?!"

It was the same guard who had spoken, startled by Cheng Ge's near-hysterical voice.

Almost blurting it out, with a mix of hurt feelings and matter-of-fact certainty: "Th-the whole camp... says so! They say... the General said it himself!"

The General himself confirmed it?!

Cui Ji himself said that?!

A memory suddenly flashed through Cheng Ge's mind like lightning cutting through fog.

That brief kiss from Cui Ji, and those words that had hit him right in the chest.

"The one I love is you, no one else."

Holy shit!!!! So Cui Ji's "I love you" wasn't just talk.

So that guy wasn't just thinking it in his own head—he actually went and spread it around?!

And he confirmed it himself?! Cheng Ge felt a surge of heat rush to his head, his cheeks instantly burning.

Half from sheer mortification, and the other half... he didn't dare delve into what that emotion was.

He now only wanted to rush straight to Cui Ji, grab him by the collar, and roar.

What the hell did you tell your soldiers?! What about my damn dignity?!!!