Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Why is Your Face So Red?

Zhou Junlin had never expected Yu State to be so difficult to conquer.

The City Lords of Daisui and Fengbai had been at odds for years, so conquering them one by one should have been a matter of time. Who would have thought the two cities would join forces to resist an external enemy, coordinating their efforts seamlessly?

They had lost nearly a thousand men in seven whole days!

Inside Song Xingfeng’s campaign tent, Zhou Junlin’s brows were tightly locked.

’No!’

’Something is very wrong with this situation.’

He turned and said slowly, “King Qing has been ill for some time without recovering. As his nephew, I am deeply concerned.”

The group arrived before Zhou Cangyan’s command tent.

Outside Zhou Cangyan’s tent, a squad of guards in silver armor stood watch, blocking anyone who approached.

Zhou Junlin knew these were the Chi Xiao, Zhou Cangyan’s personal guards, who answered only to him.

“I’ve come to see my Imperial Uncle.”

“The Prince is gravely ill and is not seeing any visitors!”

Song Xingfeng couldn’t stand it any longer and barked, “Insolence! Open your damn eyes and look! This is His Highness, Prince Ling!”

“We only take orders from King Qing!”

“But this is a military camp, and everything is subject to military law!”

The guards had no intention of arguing with Song Xingfeng; they simply refused to yield an inch.

A dark expression crossed Zhou Junlin’s fair features. He glanced sideways at Gu Ha, who, without a second word, drew his sword and advanced.

Gu Ha was a master of the highest caliber, capable of taking a general’s head from amidst an army of thousands!

Therefore, when he attacked, the few Chi Xiao guards stood no chance.

Without so much as a glance at the fallen men, Zhou Junlin strode into the tent, his face grim.

“Chun Hua, this shipment is urgent. You need to hurry and tell Sister Cao… Oh, and don’t forget about the snacks! Tell her to get plenty for me.”

Song Lianhe chattered away as she placed the letter she’d written into a bamboo tube and tied it to Chun Hua’s neck. “Go on! There’s a meat treat for you when you get back!”

Chun Hua tilted its head to look at her, then stomped one of its feet on the table twice. TAP, TAP.

Song Lianhe rolled her eyes. Finally, under Chun Hua’s insistent gaze, she relented. “Alright, alright! I’ll take you eavesdropping! You can listen in on any house you want…”

Only then, satisfied, did Chun Hua puff out its chest. It flapped its ragged wings a couple of times, launched into the air, and flew out the window.

Song Lianhe rushed to the window, shouting after its retreating form, “Don’t get sidetracked! Hurry back!”

A piercing cry rang through the air, seeming to answer her with gusto: ’If there’s something to see, I’m going to see it!’

Song Lianhe: …

’Sigh. I have no idea where on earth Zhou Cangyan could have picked up Chun Hua.’

Thinking of Zhou Cangyan, Song Lianhe suddenly realized that she hadn’t seen him since that day at the clinic.

Frowning, she walked out of her room. ’Did he go back to Yu State?’

’Leaving so quietly, without even a word of goodbye…’

Lost in thought, she wasn’t watching her path and bumped right into someone.

She rubbed her forehead. The person was wearing a hard breastplate, and the impact made her head ache.

“What are you thinking about, not watching where you’re going?”

The deep voice was tinged with a detached coldness, as if holding something back.

She looked up at the man in the black mask. For an instant, an image of Zhou Cangyan wearing one just like it flashed through her mind…

’While a mask can definitely add to the mood, on a handsome man, it has a certain magic—an irresistible, restrained allure. From head to toe, even a single strand of his hair becomes tempting!’

’Makes you want to just pounce on him and have your way with him!’

’Of course, he’d have to keep the mask on the whole time. That would make it mysterious enough, primal enough… just…’

“Why is your face so red?”

“Huh?”

Song Lianhe was jolted back to her senses and stared at the man in astonishment.

Realizing what she had just been thinking, her face turned even redder!

’Ugh! Why is my mind so full of dirty thoughts?!’

Song Lianhe covered her cheeks in horror and ran past the man.

Zhong Shimin watched the panicked girl flee, one eyebrow raised slightly.

The young woman covered her face, desperately trying to shake the images from her mind—

A ruined temple. A flash of lightning, a clap of thunder.

The drugged young woman, and the helpless man at her mercy…

She didn’t really remember the beginning of it clearly.

She only remembered that in the second half, as the drug’s effects began to wear off, her frantic frenzy finally subsided. Realizing the poison had been neutralized, Song Lianhe had wanted to leave. But just then, the man, who had been passive until that point, suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her firmly down into his lap. And the position she landed in… it was an uncannily perfect fit…

She walked quickly, her head bowed, when a large hand suddenly braced her forehead—

The young woman stumbled and looked up, her expression dazed.

Then, recognition slowly dawned in her dazed eyes…

“Zhou Cangyan!”

The moment she called his name, the man—whose expression had been cold, even frosty—actually let the corners of his lips curl up slightly. He bent a finger and flicked her on the forehead.

“If you keep rushing around so recklessly, what if I just tie you to my side?”

Song Lianhe snapped back to her senses, raising a hand to her forehead and taking a small, guilty step back. “Didn’t you return to Yu State, Your Highness?”

His indifferent gaze swept over her. “You want me to go back that badly?”

But compared to that trivial question, Song Lianhe thought of a far more serious problem!

“I heard Zhou Junlin went to Yu State…”

’If Zhou Junlin successfully retakes Yu State, won’t all the credit go to him?’

’This development would perfectly match the plot of the original story!’

’The only difference is that this time, Zhou Cangyan will surely be held accountable!’

’As the designated villain, wouldn’t this just speed up his descent into darkness?!’

At this thought, Song Lianhe couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the man before her, her heart in turmoil. ’If he ultimately fails to snatch the protagonist’s plot armor and ends up as the villain, his fate is still to be shot to death by a hail of arrows…’

A pang hit her heart, and an inexplicable discomfort settled in her chest.

Seeing the young woman looking at him with pity, the man narrowed his eyes.

Her delicate chin was suddenly gripped, forcing her to look up.

“Are you worried about him?”

Song Lianhe froze, then quickly slapped his hand away. “Who’s worried about him!”

’He’s the chosen protagonist, blessed with plot armor at every turn. I should be more worried about my own skin than his!’

She frowned and said, unable to hide her worry, “The Holy Emperor sending you to retake Yu State was a trap to begin with! Now he’s sending Zhou Junlin there too, and with so many elite soldiers and brilliant commanders. It’s obvious he’s just letting you do all the hard work so his son can reap the rewards! His desire to see his own son build a glorious reputation couldn’t be more obvious!”

“So… you’re indignant on my behalf?”

“Of course I am!”

She lifted her chin, her face a picture of righteous anger. “If you ask me, you shouldn’t go back at all! You’ll just be blamed for it when you return, anyway…”

Song Lianhe’s voice trailed off as she spoke.

Zhou Cangyan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He stared at her for a long moment before speaking. “Do you have any idea how serious a crime it is to defy an imperial edict?”

“I…”

’Of course, she knew. It was insubordination, tantamount to treason.’

’It was a crime grave enough to warrant the execution of one’s entire clan, and its repercussions would be far-reaching.’

’The first to bear the brunt would be the Prince Qing Mansion and… the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion.’

’Song Xingfeng was now closely allied with Zhou Junlin, so he would be under his protection.’

’But the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion was another matter.’

Seeing her fall silent, he raised his gaze unhurriedly. “Don’t say such things again.”

Song Lianhe ducked her head even lower. “Oh…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep