“Yan Zheng?” Chu Ruoyan noticed his unusual state and immediately narrowed her eyes.

The man took a deep breath, suppressing the bloody taste in his throat. “Meng Ze submitted a letter for peace talks. He said that as long as his sister’s life is spared, he would agree not to wage war for ten years. The Great Xia has faced successive wars, and the people have long suffered unbearably. So, I agreed…”

“I wasn’t asking about that. Are you alright?”

Her worried gaze fixed on his face. Yan Zheng instinctively turned his head away, but heard the woman say, “Don’t lie to me!”

His thin lips parted, finally dissolving into a bitter smile. “I’m fine, just a minor injury…”

“Minor injury?!”

Chu Ruoyan instantly felt as if facing a great enemy. One had to know that Yan Zheng lived up to his name, being utterly unyielding and tough. If he called it a ‘minor injury,’ it must be extremely serious!

“Where are you hurt? Don’t scare me. Let’s go find Old Divine Doctor Qin!”

Her hands fluttered about in a panic, which only agitated his already surging blood flow further.

Yan Zheng had no choice but to grab her hands. “A’Yan, it really is just a minor injury. I received Yunlang’s letter and rushed back without stopping, which drained some of my vitality. It’s truly nothing serious.”

Just then, a sarcastic voice chimed in. “Indeed, Madam! We merely ran eight or nine horses to death, and His Lordship traveled day and night for five days without rest to rush back, that’s all!”

Chu Ruoyan’s heart leaped into her throat. Yan Zheng said coldly, “Qu Jiang!”

Then, a man who looked like a general stepped forward and gave a reluctant bow. “Qu Jiang, Commander of the Left Vanguard Battalion under His Lordship’s command, pays respects to Madam!”

Chu Ruoyan quickly gestured for him to rise, her anxious gaze returning to the man’s face. “Five days and nights without rest? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

Yan Zheng shot a glare at Qu Jiang and soothingly squeezed her hand. “A’Yan, I’m really fine. On military campaigns, going several days without rest is common; I’m used to it. But you, pregnant and still going through such turmoil, are you alright?”

Seeing that he seemed genuinely unharmed, Chu Ruoyan’s suspended heart slowly settled. “No… it was quite an ordeal, but the child has been very well-behaved, not causing me much trouble.”

Especially these past few days, the morning sickness had stopped, otherwise she might not have been able to escape.

Yan Zheng nodded, putting an arm around her shoulder. “Come, let’s get in the carriage first.”

Chu Ruoyan nodded. Qu Jiang suddenly spoke up, “My Lord! Since we have already reached the capital, should we proceed to the Western Mountain Camp first?”

Yan Zheng didn’t even look at him. “Back to camp.”

“My Lord, the opportunity must not be lost! Only this one troop remains guarding the capital region! If we eliminate them… My Lord! My Lord!”

Before Qu Jiang could finish, Yan Zheng had already lifted his little wife into the carriage.

Qu Jiang stamped his foot heavily with a sigh and could only follow.

Inside the carriage.

Chu Ruoyan leaned against his chest, hearing his solid, powerful heartbeat, and felt an unprecedented sense of peace. “I sent Wenjing to Second Sister-in-law’s place, and Sixth Brother…”

“I know. I’ve already met him.”

“You’ve met him? When?” Chu Ruoyan looked up at him in surprise.

Her rare dazed expression made the corners of Yan Zheng’s lips lift slightly. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Just a while ago. Sixth Yan was waiting at the Nine-Mile Pavilion with your third younger sister, and I happened to run into them. It was from him that I learned you would be leaving the capital by this road…”

Chu Ruoyan blinked. “So that’s how it is. Then you also know about the emperor wanting to kill my father?”

“Yes. My father-in-law is foolishly loyal. If the emperor wants him dead, he likely won’t flee and might even implicate you. So, as soon as I got the message, I rushed back. Thankfully, I made it in time!”

No wonder he could reach the capital so quickly!

Chu Ruoyan reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Yan Zheng, you’ve worked so hard. These past few days, I’ve been on tenterhooks, afraid we couldn’t get away, afraid of falling into the emperor’s hands and becoming a burden to you. Thankfully, it didn’t happen…”

As her taut nerves relaxed, weariness washed over her like a tide.

The young woman leaned against him, her breathing steady and long.

Yan Zheng looked down at her for a long time before planting an extremely light kiss on the top of her head. “A’Yan, it is I who has made you suffer.”

If she hadn’t gone to great lengths to get everyone out—Wenjing, Sixth Yan… if even one of them had fallen into the emperor’s hands, he would have been hampered at every turn!

To have met her in this life, what more could one ask for!

Chu Ruoyan slept until deep into the night.

She awoke in a military tent. The light was dim, and a tempting aroma tickled her nose.

“Awake? Here, have some fish congee.”

The cool, familiar voice spoke, followed immediately by a spoonful of hot congee held before her.

She remembered that just half a day ago, she was still struggling desperately with her elder brother, unsure if they could escape the vortex of the capital.

Now, half a day later, she was already settled, with someone reliable by her side and delicious congee. Her eyes couldn’t help but redden slightly.

“What’s wrong? Does it not suit your taste? I’ll have someone make something else right away.”

The man started to rise to leave but was pulled back by her. “No!”

The woman snatched the bowl of congee from his hands and ate it all in one go.

Yan Zheng watched her finish, curl back up on the bed, and let out a contented sigh. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “A’Yan, do you know you’re becoming more and more like a kitten?”

“A ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍kitten?” Chu Ruoyan thought of those soft, fluffy little creatures that were always ready to bristle and pouted slightly. “No, thanks. I still prefer Fubao…”

No sooner had she spoken than a black-and-white puppy charged in, leaping towards her with lightning speed.

But just as it was mid-air, Yan Zheng caught it by the scruff of its neck with one hand. “If you hurt her, I’ll stew you!”

The puppy immediately bared its teeth, but Chu Ruoyan cried out joyfully, “Fubao? Have Nanny Zhou and the others arrived too?”

Their plan had been to split into three groups. She and Second Brother went back to rescue people, while Yan Zhao and Chu Ruolan waited at the original spot, and the others went ahead first. Now that Fubao was here, it meant they had arrived too!

Sure enough, Nanny Zhou entered with a smile. “Young Lady, Fubao is fiercely loyal. He won’t let anyone but you touch him. See, Young Master Meng even got scratched!”

Following her words, Meng Yang entered with a pained expression. “Madam, you must stand up for your subordinate!”

Chu Ruoyan looked at the wound on his wrist, patted Fubao’s head, and then remembered something. “Guard Meng, what about the Jin Prince’s heir?”

Meng Yang immediately knelt on one knee. “Madam, please forgive me. That fiend was too slippery; I truly couldn’t catch up. And also…”

As he spoke, he glanced up at Yan Zheng, as if there was something difficult to say.

The latter cleared his throat. “All of you, leave us for now.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep