Volume Seven: The Years I Was a General
Triumphant Return
The Empress Regnant of Ming’an Kingdom was going to have a great wedding. This was a great matter under heaven, especially since the one she was going to welcome and marry was the then-illustrious in battle merits Little General Gu.
The two of them had experienced too much between them, and now that they were going to joyfully tie the interlocking branches1, it truly shocked some people until their eyes were staring and mouths were agape.
They clearly remembered that Xiao Chuyu had considered Gu Wen Nuan to be a chaotic official and traitorous son who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. Although the truth was later investigated and Gu Wen Nuan was released without guilt, the two of them were now actually going to get married. This turn of events truly made it so that no matter how one thought about it, they could not think it through.
Now, the only one who could think through the relationship between the two of them was Ye Mingxiu.
Ye Mingxiu looked at the invitation card sent over by Xiao Chuyu, sighed helplessly, and then immediately laughed out loud, sighing, “A woman marrying a woman, it is truly outside of one’s expectations.”
But on second thought, he felt it was as reason should be. If these two did not get married, who else under all of heaven could be a match for them?
At this time, Ming’an Kingdom was immersed in the lively and festive atmosphere of the Empress’s impending great wedding, not knowing in the slightest that the war situation in Mobei was tense and had already seriously threatened the territory of Ming’an Kingdom.
Xiao Chuyu had recently been busy to the point of having a scorched head and a battered forehead2. Although she was very happy to be able to marry Wen Nuan, the crisis of the war in Mobei made her heart annoyed and her mind disordered.
She looked at the war reports from the past few days. Ming’an Kingdom had consecutively lost the defense of three cities, and the battlefield had now reached Pinglan City. It was already a desperate situation of lips gone, teeth cold3.
Looking at the teacup that was handed over, Xiao Chuyu waved her hand to refuse, “Zhen will not drink, take it away.”
“Drink a little, won’t you? Your lips are all dry.”
Xiao Chuyu suddenly lifted her head, looking at the person who had arrived in disbelief, “How did you get here?”
She immediately covered her face, saying urgently, “Wen Nuan, you must leave quickly. Meeting before the great wedding will be inauspicious.”
Wen Nuan did not know whether to laugh or cry, and pulled Xiao Chuyu’s hand down. “Feudal superstitions are not to be believed. What auspicious or inauspicious? I just miss you, who cares if it’s before the great wedding or after we’re married.”
Xiao Chuyu saw her completely unconcerned appearance, “These are all rules passed down from our ancestors. They should still be followed.”
“It’s fine, just pretend you haven’t seen me, and that will solve it.”
“….” Xiao Chuyu could not win the argument against Wen Nuan, and sighed, “We are getting married in two days. Why did you suddenly come tonight?”
Wen Nuan picked up the war report from the table, her expression grave. “The war in Mobei cannot be delayed any longer.”
There was some unease on Xiao Chuyu’s face. She snatched the war report from Wen Nuan’s hands. “Zhen has Zhen’s own ideas. You are not to manage this. Quickly return to your manor and prepare for the wedding.”
“Chuchu, I know what you are thinking,” Wen Nuan said, holding her still-icy hand and rubbing it. “My internal injuries are almost better now. You don’t need to worry about my body. As for the current battle situation in Mobei, you and I both know clearly in our hearts that it cannot be delayed any longer.”
Xiao Chuyu took a step back, avoiding Wen Nuan’s gaze. “No, Zhen does not permit it.”
“Chuchu, do you know why I revealed your identity back then, allowing you to ascend the imperial throne with the identity of a woman?”
What she had said to Ye Mingxiu at the time was only a part of it. The most important part, Wen Nuan had not yet said.
Xiao Chuyu was startled, looking at her with a complicated gaze. “What?”
“I was thinking that a woman should be able to become the master of this world under heaven, and can also display her own aspirations and ambitions.” Wen Nuan pulled Xiao Chuyu into her embrace, lightly kissing her hair, her tone gentle. “And what I can do is to allow her to be able to, with a correct name and smooth words4, ascend the imperial throne with the identity of a woman, while I, also with the identity of a woman, submit to my empress, to be the sharpest sword blade in her hand, to open up new territories for her, to unify the world under heaven, to, for her, rout all that she faces5, and in battle, be without not winning.”
Xiao Chuyu’s pupils trembled. She hugged Wen Nuan tightly, with such great strength it seemed she wanted to merge her into her own flesh and blood, never to be separated again.
“Wen Nuan, I am afraid.”
Afraid you will never come back, afraid you will die on that cruel battlefield.
“Don’t be afraid,” Wen Nuan lowered her head and kissed her trembling lips. “I will definitely bring back a victory report to come and marry my Empress Regnant. Believe me, Chuchu.”
Xiao Chuyu completely lost her defenses in Wen Nuan’s gentleness. “…Okay.”
Her little general will definitely be one word, nine tripods6, and triumphantly return.
An imperial edict came too suddenly, striking everyone so they were without time to arrange their hands.
The day of the Empress’s great wedding instead became the day Gu Wen Nuan led the army on an expedition to Mobei to resist the enemy. The sun was just rising, the great fog had not yet dispersed, and outside the capital city stood a great army of fifty thousand. They wore profound black7 armor, their imposing manner majestic. The blades of the long sabers worn at their waists flickered with a white light that made one’s courage turn cold, intimidating the inner hearts of everyone present.
The great army had already accumulated its power and was waiting to be unleashed. Their expressions were serious, and they stared without turning their eyes at Xiao Chuyu on the city wall, awaiting her command.
Xiao Chuyu looked at Gu Wen Nuan, who stood at the front of the great army. She rode a white horse, and crimson battle armor wrapped her slender body, like a crimson maple tree that still stood majestically without falling in a great wind.
Their eyes met for a moment. Wen Nuan gave her a faint smile and mouthed without sound, “Wait for me.”
Xiao Chuyu nodded, raised her hand, and said in a loud voice, “Zhen will be here waiting for all of you to return in triumph.”
The great army shouted in unison, “Nuo——”
With a burst from a loud and urgent horn, Wen Nuan pulled up the reins, turned her horse’s head, and led the fifty-thousand-strong army to rush towards Mobei.
Xiao Chuyu watched that gorgeous figure disappear from her sight, unwilling to leave for a long, long time.
Spring went and autumn came.
The shade of the green trees could not withstand the passage of time, and piece by piece, golden ginkgo8 leaves fell, filling every corner of the imperial palace.
Xiao Chuyu looked at the victory report that had been delivered, a smile on her lips, but a faint sorrow and longing surfaced in her eyes.
She looked at the ginkgo tree before her window that was about to become bare. On it, a dozen or so leaves were still prolonging a lingering breath9, as if trying their best to resist the coolness and heartlessness of the autumn day.
“She has been gone for seventy-two days. When will she be able to return, I wonder?”
Yuan Qi said, “Your Majesty, victory reports from Mobei are now entering the capital city one after another. I think Little General Gu is about to return to the imperial court.”
Ever since Gu Wen Nuan went to Mobei, victory reports had entered the capital city one after another. Sometimes, Gu Wen Nuan would send her a letter to express her feelings of lovesickness, but when the battle situation was tense and difficult to resolve, this lovesickness would be without a trace or shadow. She could only pay attention to Gu Wen Nuan’s situation in Mobei through the victory reports.
Xiao Chuyu looked at this victory report. Lu Ling had already been subdued by Wen Nuan, the old army of Yaodong Kingdom had been completely crushed, the bandits and robbers of Mobei had also been completely cleared out, and Anlong Kingdom had lost five cities in a row, beaten by Wen Nuan’s brave and fierce attacks until they were at a loss with their hands and feet. They could only submit a letter of surrender, requesting that Ming’an Kingdom’s subordinates show mercy.
But Wen Nuan acted on her own authority, unilaterally tearing up Anlong Kingdom’s letter of surrender and directly riding the victory to pursue the attack10, capturing Anlong Kingdom’s territory in one fell swoop. Her methods were sharp and ruthless. Facing the Anlong Kingdom king’s show of goodwill, she coldly and ruthlessly had him executed for his crimes.
At the name of Lu Ling, Xiao Chuyu couldn’t help but feel a sour taste and complaint rise in her heart, thinking whether Wen Nuan had been entangled heart and spirit by that fox spirit11, and that was why she wasn’t writing letters to her or returning to the imperial court.
Several times, she wanted to go to Mobei to find Wen Nuan, to relieve a bit of this lovesickness pain that was carved into her very bone marrow.
She really missed her so much.
“It will soon be winter,” she sighed softly.
Yuan Qi said, “Your Majesty, the weather is gradually getting cooler. Please take care of your dragon body12.”
Xiao Chuyu extended a hand to feel the blowing wind, which carried a coolness. “At this time of year, I’m afraid it has already snowed in Mobei, right?”
“Yes, it is much colder over in Mobei than in the capital city.”
“Her body cannot get cold,” Xiao Chuyu murmured.
The body and bones she had nourished back to health with such great difficulty have probably been tormented by her until they are no longer in proper shape.
“When the first snow falls in the capital city, let’s go to Mobei.”
Yuan Qi paused for a moment, then responded, “Nuo.”
Xiao Chuyu caught a falling ginkgo leaf and smiled lightly. “If she doesn’t have time to come back, then Zhen will go and bring her home.”
East Emperor Official Road
“General, by not bringing Zhao Liang with you on your return to the capital this time, you’ve really made him feel wronged to death,” Zhangsun Jiashi said with a helpless smile, looking at the person lying on the horse’s back.
Wen Nuan chewed on a blade of grass in her mouth, saying with a listless expression, “His injury hasn’t completely healed yet. Why would he blindly follow along to join the lively scene? First, he should recover properly in Mobei. When his injury is healed, he can come back together with Yi Lai then.”
When Zhao Liang was fighting, he was stabbed in the heart meridian13 by the enemy and was almost unable to be saved. Fortunately, Wen Nuan thought of some methods and pulled Zhao Liang back from the hands of King Yama14.
Zhangsun Jiashi thought of the words Wen Nuan had said to save Zhao Liang and couldn’t help but smile. “Zhao Liang is very well-behaved now, deeply afraid that you, General, will torment his son until he is broken.”
Wen Nuan smiled. “People, you know, at the juncture of life and death, need a bit of special motivation to touch their desire to live.”
Zhangsun Jiashi nodded his head in admiration.
He looked into the distance and estimated, “General, with one more day’s journey, we will arrive at the capital city.”
“Good. Let’s travel slowly from now on, then. The soldiers have been tormented badly these past few days.”
Wen Nuan looked at the three thousand soldiers following behind her. This time she returned, she also only brought15 three thousand people; the rest all remained in Mobei to guard the border.
Zhangsun Jiashi immediately gave the orders.
Wen Nuan looked at the gloomy weather and asked casually, “Is it about to snow?”
“Yes, Mobei has already had heavy snow for days, and the capital city is also about to snow.” Zhangsun Jiashi looked at the color of the sky and calculated, “It should snow within these two days.”
“Jiashi, do you know about the first snow?”
“The first snow?” Zhangsun Jiashi thought for a moment. “Is it the first snowfall of winter?”
“Mhm, do you know its meaning?”
The first snowfall of winter has a meaning?
Zhangsun Jiashi shook his head. “This subordinate official does not know. I request the General to solve my confusion.”
Wen Nuan gave a mysterious smile. “If people who are in love appreciate the first snow together, then they can have white heads and grow old together16.”
“There’s such a saying?” Zhangsun Jiashi found this strange and said suspiciously, “It couldn’t be that you made it up yourself, General, could it?”
“Hey, why would I make that up?” Wen Nuan said, unconvinced. “And it’s not just me who knows; there is one other person who knows.”
“Who?”
“Naturally, it’s our Ming’an Kingdom’s Empress Regnant, of course.”
Snow fell on the capital city, which was adorned in silver and plainly wrapped17.
The imperial guards had already gathered at the city gate, awaiting the arrival of the Empress’s imperial carriage.
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance, vast and mighty. Everyone immediately became vigilant and looked towards the crowd of people rushing over from afar.
Just as the imperial carriage reached the city gate, Xiao Chuyu heard the distant, thunder-like sound of galloping horses. Her brow wrinkled. “Yuan Qi, who is galloping their horses?”
Listening to this magnificent sound, the number of people galloping their horses must not be small.
From outside the imperial carriage came Yuan Qi’s excited voice, “Your Majesty, it is… it is Little General Gu! She has returned!”
Xiao Chuyu’s body instantly tensed. She immediately pushed open the carriage door, disregarding Yuan Qi’s shouts, not caring about the stains as mud splashed onto her clothes while she ran.
In her eyes, there was only the white-clothed youth in front of her, riding a dark brown horse.
White snow gradually drifted down from the sky, falling bit by bit into the two people’s scorching eyes.
Wen Nuan pulled on the reins, making the horse run swiftly towards Xiao Chuyu.
Xiao Chuyu watched Wen Nuan rush towards her. She reached out her hand, and her entire person was pulled into Wen Nuan’s embrace in one motion.
By her ear was the sound of her scorching heartbeat, her still-scorching body temperature, and her familiar fresh fragrance.
It was as if between heaven and earth, only they were still living, scalding hot.
She hugged Wen Nuan tightly and said, choking with sobs, “You’ve returned.”
Wen Nuan smiled and said, “Mhm, I’ve returned to marry my Empress Regnant.”
The thirty-second year of Jingming18, winter.
The war in Mobei was completely pacified. The Empress of Ming’an Kingdom, Xiao Chuyu, unified the world under heaven. The entire country, from top to bottom, celebrated together.
Gu Wen Nuan’s merits could not be ignored. Xiao Chuyu bestowed upon Gu Wen Nuan the title of King Who Guards the North19, added to her official posts and promoted her rank, and awarded her land. For a time, her limelight was without two20.
But Gu Wen Nuan did not accept Xiao Chuyu’s bestowed titles, asking instead for a different favor.
The thirty-second year of Jingming, a great snow.
Crimson brocade and pure white snowflakes covered the great streets and small alleys of the capital city.
Ten li of red dowry21, celebrated by ten thousand people.
The Empress Regnant of Ming’an Kingdom, wearing a phoenix crown and rosy cape22, sat in an eight-carrier great sedan chair23 and married into the General’s Manor.
The hundred officials sat in the General’s Manor, drinking the joy wine24 that made their hearts and spirits tremble. The common people surrounded the General’s Manor until water could not leak through25. The imperial guards handed out joy candy26 again and again, sharing the joy with the people.
On this day, the capital city was as bright as day with lights. Even in the dead of night, it was as if the morning sun was still present.
Outside was lively and bustling with happy songs and laughter; inside the room, it was so quiet that one could only hear the sound of each other’s beating hearts.
Wen Nuan took the jade ruyi27 from the side and lifted the red covering28 from Xiao Chuyu’s head.
Under the candlelight, Xiao Chuyu was beautiful to the point of startling the heart and shaking the soul29. Her skin was as fine and moist as warm jade, with vermilion lips and bright eyes. Her eyes were full of amorous feelings and charm, hooking Wen Nuan’s desire until it flourished.
Xiao Chuyu was made endlessly shy by Wen Nuan’s scalding gaze. She lightly touched Wen Nuan, who was frozen in place. “The nuptial wine30.”
Wen Nuan returned to her senses, took the two cups of wine from the table, and handed one to her.
Their arms intertwined, and they drank the nuptial wine together.
Wen Nuan raised a hand to stroke her cheek. Her face was like a peach blossom31, so beautiful it made one unable to look away.
“Wen Nuan, from this day forward, we are a married couple,” Xiao Chuyu said joyfully.
“Mhm,” Wen Nuan moved closer and kissed her lips. “Chuchu, I love you.”
Xiao Chuyu was moved, closing her eyes to feel Wen Nuan’s intense love. “I love you too.”
System: 【Beep! Female lead’s blackening value cleared to zero. Currently constructing replica body. Task-doer is about to be separated from the mission world. Please be prepared.】
Wen Nuan looked at Xiao Chuyu with reluctance, holding her tightly in her embrace. “We drank the nuptial wine. We will be together forever.”
【Three, two, one… Replica body construction successful. Task-doer separating!】
——Wait for me.
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